GIFT   OF 
MICHAEL  REESE 


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Copyright,  1882,   by   William  S.  Gottsberger 


PRESS  OF 

WILLIAM  S.  GOTTSBERGER 

NEW  YORK 


BARONESS -SOPHIE  VON  BRANDENSTEIN, 
nee  Ebers. 

My  reason  for  dedicating  a  book,  and  particularly 
this  book,  to  you,  the  only  sister  of  my  dead  father, 
needs  no  word  of  explanation  between  us.  From  early 
childhood  you  have  been  a  dear  and  faithful  friend  to 
me,  and  certainly  have  not  forgotten  how  industriously 
I  labored,  while  your  guest  seventeen  years  ago,  in  ar- 
ranging the  material  whicli  constitutes  the  foundation  of 
the  *'  Burgomaster's  Wife."  You  then  took  a  friendly 
interest  in  many  a  note  of  facts,  that  had  seemed  to  me 
extraordinary,  admirable,  or  amusing,  and  when  the 
claims  of  an  arduous  profession  prevented  me  from  pur- 
suing my  favorite  occupation  of  studying  the  history  of 
Holland,  my  mother's  home,  in  the  old  way,  never 
wearied  of  reminding  me  of  the  fallow  material,  that  had 
previously  awakened  your  sympatliy. 

At  last  I  have  been  permitted  to  give  the  matter  so 
long  laid  aside  its  just  dues.  A  beautiful  portion  of 
Holland's  glorious  history  affords  the  espalier,  around 
which  the  tendrils  of  my  narrative  entwine.  You  have 
watched  them  grow,  and  therefore  will  view  them  kindly 
and  indulgently. 

In  love  and  friendship. 

Ever  the  same, 

Georq  Ebers 

Leipsic,  Oct.  30th,  1881, 


THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE. 


CHAPTER  I. 

In  the  year  1574  A.  D.  spring  made  its  joyous  entry 
into  the  Netherlands  at  an  unusually  early  date. 

The  sky  was  blue,  gnats  sported  in  the  sunshine, 
white  butterflies  alighted  on  the  newly-opened  yellow 
flowers,  and  beside  one  of  the  numerous  ditches  inter- 
secting the  wide  plain  stood  a  stork,  snapping  at  a  fine 
fi*og;  the  poor  fellow  soon  writhed  in  its  enemy's  red  beak. 
One  gulp — the  merry  jumper  vanished,  and  its  murderer, 
flapping  its  wings,  soared  high  into  the  air.  On  flew 
the  bird  over  gardens  filled  with  blossoming  fruit-trees, 
trimly  laid-out  flower-beds,  and  gaily-painted  arbors, 
across  the  frowning  circlet  of  walls  and  towers  that 
girdled  the  city,  over  narrow  houses  with  high,  pointed 
gables,  and  neat  streets  bordered  with  elm,  poplar,  lin- 
den and  willow-trees,  decked  with  the  first  green  leaves 
of  spring.  At  last  it  alighted  on  a  lofty  gable-roof,  on 
whose  ridge  was  its  firmly-fastened  nest.  After  gen- 
erously giving  up  its  prey  to  the  little  wife  brooding 
over  the  eggs,  it  stood  on  one  leg  and  gazed  thought- 
fully down  upon  the  city,  whose  shining  red  tiles 
gleamed  spick  and  span  from  the  green  velvet  carpet  of 
the  meadows.  The  bird  had  known  beautiful  Leyden, 
the  gem  of  Holland,  for  many  a  year,  and  was  familiar 
with  all  the  branches  of  the  Rhine  that  divided  the 


2  THE    BURGOMASTERS    WIFE. 

Stately  city  into  numerous  islands,  and  over  which 
arched  as  many  stone  bridges  as  there  are  days  in  five 
months  of  the  year;  but  surely  many  changes  had  oc- 
curred here  since  the  stork's  last  departure  for  the  south. 

Where  were  the  citizens'  gay  summer-houses  and 
orchards,  where  the  wooden  frames  on  which  the 
weavers  used  to  stretch  their  dark  and  colored  cloths  ? 

Whatever  plant  or  work  of  human  hands  had  risen, 
outside  the  city  walls  and  towers  to  the  height  of  a  man's 
breast,  thus  interrupting  the  uniformity  of  the  plain, 
had  vanished  from  the  earth,  and  beyond,  on  the  bird's 
best  hunting-grounds,  brownish  spots  sown  with  black 
circles  appeared  among  the  green  of  the  meadows. 

Late  in  October  of  the  preceding  year,  just  after  the 
storks  left  the  country,  a  Spanish  army  had  encamped 
here,  and  a  few  hours  before  the  return  of  the  winged 
wanderers  in  the  first  opening  days  of  spring,  the  be- 
siegers retired  without  having  accomplished  their  pur- 
pose. 

Barren  spots  amid  the  luxuriant  growth  of  vegeta- 
tion marked  the  places  where  they  had  pitched  their  tents, 
the  black  cinders  of  the  burnt  coals  their  camp-fires. 

The  sorely-threatened  inhabitants  of  the  rescued  city, 
with  thankful  hearts,  uttered  sighs  of  relief  The  in- 
dustrious, volatile  populace  had  speedily  forgotten  the 
sufferings  endured,  for  early  spring  is  so  beautiful,  and 
never  does  a  rescued  life  seem  so  delicious  as  when  we 
are  surrounded  by  the  joys  of  spring. 

A  new  and  happier  time  appeared  to  have  dawned, 
not  only  for  Nature  but  for  human  beings.  The  troops 
quartered  in  the  besieged  city,  which  had  the  day  before 
committed  many  an  annoyance,  had  been  dismissed 
with  song  and  music.    The  carpenter's  axe  flashed  in  the 


THE    BURGOMASTER  S    WIFE.  3 

Spring  sunlight  before  the  red  walls,  towers  and  gates,  and 
cut  sharply  into  the  beams  from  which  new  scaffolds  and 
frames  were  to  be  erected ;  noble  cattle  grazed  peace- 
fully undisturbed  around  the  city,  whose  desolated  gar- 
dens were  being  dug,  sowed  and  planted  afresh.  In  the 
streets  and  houses  a  thousand  hands,  which  but  a  short 
time  before  had  guided  spears  and  arquebuses  on  the 
walls  and  towers,  were  busy  at  useful  work,  and  old 
people  sat  quietly  before  their  doors  to  let  the  warm 
spring  sun  shine  on  their  backs. 

Few  discontented  faces  were  to  be  seen  in  Leyden 
on  this  eighteenth  of  April.  True,  there  was  no  lack  of 
impatient  ones,  and  whoever  wanted  to  seek  them  need 
only  go  to  the  principal  school,  where  noon  was  ap- 
proaching and  many  boys  gazed  far  more  eagerly 
through  the  open  windows  of  the  school-room,  than  at 
the  teacher's  lips. 

But  in  that  part  of  the  spacious  hall  where  the  older 
lads  received  instruction,  no  restlessness  prevailed. 
True,  the  spring  sun  shone  on  their  books  and  exercises 
too,  the  spring  called  them  into  the  open  air,  but  even 
more  poverful  than  its  alluring  voice  seemed  the  influ- 
ence exerted  on  their  young  minds  by  what  they  were 
now  hearing. 

Forty  sparkling  eyes  were  turned  towards  the 
bearded  man,  who  addressed  them  in  his  deep  voice. 

Even  wild  Jan  Mulder  had  dropped  the  knife  with 
which  he  had  begun  to  cut  on  his  desk  a  well-executed 
figure  of  a  ham,  and  was  listening  attentively. 

The  noon  bell  now  rang  from  the  neighboring 
church,  and  soon  after  was  heard  from  the  tower  of  the 
town-hall,  the  little  boys  noisily  left  the  room,  but — • 
strange— the  patience  of  the  older  ones  still  held  out; 


4  THE    burgomaster's    WIFE. 

they  were  surely  hearing  things  that  did  not  exactly  be- 
long to  their  lessons. 

The  man  who  stood  before  them  was  no  teacher  in 
the  school,  but  the  city  clerk,  Van  Hout,  who,  to-da^ 
filled  the  place  of  his  sick  friend,  Verstroot,  master  of 
arts  and  preacher.  During  the  ringing  of  the  bells  he 
had  closed  the  book,  and  now  said  : 

**  Suspendo  lectionem,  Jan  Mulder,  how  would  you 
translate  my  *  stispendere^  ?  " 

"  Hang,"  replied  the  boy. 

"  Hang !"  laughed  Van  Hout.  "  You  might  be  hung 
from  a  hook  perhaps,  but  where  should  we  hang  a  les- 
son ?  Adrian  Van  der  Werff." 

The  lad  called  rose  quickly,  saying : 

"  *  Suspendere  lectionem  '  means  to  break  off  the 
lesson." 

"Very  well;  and  if  we  wanted  to  hang  up  Jan 
Mulder,  what  should  we  say  ?'* 

"  Patibulare — ad  patibulum  /"  cried  the  scholars. 

Van  Hout,  who  had  just  been  smiling,  grew  very 
grave.     Drawing  a  long  breath,  he  said  : 

^'-  Patibulo  is  a  bad  Latin  word,  and  your  fathers, 
who  formerly  sat  here,  understood  its  meaning  far  less 
thoroughly  than  you.  Now,  every  child  in  the  Nether- 
lands knows  it,  Alva  has  impressed  it  on  our  minds. 
More  than  eighteen  thousand  worthy  citizens  have  come 
to  the  gallows  through  his  ^  ad  patibulum' " 

With  these  words  he  pulled  his  short  black  doublet 
through  his  girdle,  advanced  nearer  the  first  desk,  and 
bending  his  muscular  body  forward,  said  with  constantly 
increasing  emotion  : 

"  This  shall  be  enough  for  to-day,  boys.  It  will  do 
no  great   harm,   if    you   afterwards  forget   the   names 


THE    burgomaster's    WIFE.  -     5 

learned  here.  But  always  remember  one  thing:  your 
country  first  of  all.  Leonidas  and  his  three  hundred 
Spartans  did  not  die  in  vain,  so  long  as  there  are  men 
ready  to  follow  their  example.  Your  turn  will  come 
too.  It  is  not  my  business  to  boast,  but  truth  is  truth. 
We  Hollanders  have  furnished  fifty  times  three  hundred 
men  for  the  freedom  of  our  native  soil.  Jn  such  stormy 
times  there  are  steadfast  men ;  even  boys  have  shown 
themselves  great.  Ulrich  yonder,  at  your  head,  can 
bear  his  nickname  of  Lowing  with  honor.  *  Hither 
Persians — hither  Greeks  !'  was  said  in  ancient  times,  but 
we  cry :  '  Hither  Netherlands,  hither  Spain  !*  And  in- 
deed, the  proud  Darius  never  ravaged  Greece  as  King 
PhiHp  has  devastated  Holland.  Ay,  my  lads,  many 
flowers  bloom  in  the  breasts  of  men.  Among  them 
is  hatred  of  the  poisonous  hemlock.  Spain  has 
sowed  it.  in  our  gardens.  I  feel  it  growing  within  me, 
and  you  too  feel  and  ought  to  feel  it.  But  don't  mis- 
understand me!  *  Hither  Spain — hither  Netherlands!*  is 
the  cry,  and  not:  ^  Hither  Catholics  and  hither  Protes- 
tants.' Every  faith  may  be  right  in  tlie  Lord's  eyes,  if  only 
the  man  strives  earnestly  to  walk  in  Christ's  ways.  At 
the  throne  of  Heaven,  it  will  not  be  asked  :  Are  you 
Papist,  Calvin ist,  or  Lutheran  ?  but :  What  were  your 
intentions  and  acts  ?  Respect  every  man's  belief;  but 
despise  him  who  makes  common  cause  with  the  tyrant 
against  the  liberty  of  our  native  land.  Now  pray 
silently,  then  you  may  go  home." 

The  scholars  rose;  Van  Hout  wiped  the  perspira- 
tion from  his  high  forehead,  and  while  the  boys  were 
collecting  books,  pencils,  and  pens,  said  slowly,  as  if 
apologizing  to  himself  for  the  words  already  uttered : 

"  What  I  have  told  you  perhaps  does  not  belong  to 


6  THE    burgomaster's    WIFE. 

the  school-room;  but,  my  lads,  this  battle  is  still  far 
from  being  ended,  and  though  you  must  occupy  the 
school-benches  for  a  while,  you  are  the  future  soldiers. 
Lowing,  remain  behind,  I  have  something  to  say  to 
you." 

He  slowly  turned  his  back  to  the  boys,  who  rushed 
out  of  doors.  *  In  a  comer  of  the  yard  of  St.  Peter's 
church,  which  was  behind  the  building  and  entered  by 
few  of  the  passers-by,  they  stood  still,  and  from  amid 
the  wild  confusion  of  exclamations  arose  a  sort  of  con- 
sultation, to  which  the  organ-notes  echomg  from  the 
church  formed  a  strange  accompaniment. 

They  were  trying  to  decide  upon  the  game  to  be 
played  in  the  afternoon. 

It  was  a  matter  of  course,  after  what  Van  Hout  had 
said,  that  there  should  be  a  battle;  it  had  not  even 
been  proposed  by  anybody,  but  the  discussion  that  now 
arose  proceeded  from  the  supposition. 

It  was  soon  decided  that  patriots  and  Spaniards,  not 
Greeks  and  Persians,  were  to  appear  in  the  lists  against 
each  other;  but  when  the  burgomaster's  son,  Adrian 
Van  der  Werff,  a  lad  of  fourteen,  proposed  to  form  the 
two  parties,  and  in  the  imperious  way  peculiar  to  him 
attempted  to  make  Paul  Van  Swieten  and  Glaus  Dirkson 
Spaniards,  he  encountered  violent  opposition,  and  the 
troublesome  circumstance  was  discovered  that  no  one 
was  willing  to  represent  a  foreign  soldier. 

Each  boy  wanted  to  make  somebody  else  a  Gas- 
tilian,  and  fight  himself  under  the  banner  of  the  Nether- 
lands. But  friends  and  foes  are  necessary  for  a  war,  and 
Holland's  heroic  courage  required  Spaniards  to  prove 
It.  The  youngsters  grew  excited,  the  cheeks  of  the  dis- 
putants began  to  flush,  here  and  there  clenched  lists 


THE    burgomaster's    WIFE.  *J 

were  raised,  and  everything  indicated  that  a  horrible 
civil  war  would  precede  the  battle  to  be  given  the  foes 
of  the  country. 

In  truth,  these  Hvely  boys  were  ill-suited  to  play  the 
part  of  King  Philip's  gloomy,  stiff-necked  soldiers. 
Amid  the  many  fair  heads,  few  lads  were  seen  with 
l)rown  locks,  and  only  one  with  black  hair  and  dark 
eyes.  This  was  Adam  Baersdorp,  whose  fdther,  like  Van 
der  Werff's,  was  one  of  the  leaders  of  the  citizens.  When 
he  too  refused  to  act  a  Spaniard,  one  of  the  boys  ex- 
claimed : 

**  You  won't  ?  Yet  my  father  says  your  father  is  half 
a  Glipper,*  and  a  whole  Papist  to  boot." 

At  these  words  young  Baersdorp  threw  his  books  on 
the  ground,  and  was  rushing  with  upraised  fist  upon  his 
enemy — ^but  Adrian  Van  der  Werff  hastily  interposed, 
crying : 

"  For  shame,  Cornelius. — I'll  stop  the  mouth  of  any- 
body who  utters  such  an  insult  again.  Catholics  are 
Christians,  as  well  as  we.  You  heard  it  from  Van  Hout, 
and  my  father  says  so  too.  Will  you  be  a  Spaniard, 
Adam,  yes  or  no  ?" 

'*  No  1 "  cried  the  latter  firmly.  '*  And  if  anybody 
else — " 

**  You  can  quarrel  afterward,"  said  Adrian  Van  der 
Werff,  interrupting  his  excited  companions,  then  good- 
naturedly  picking  up  the  books  Baersdorp  had  flung 
down,  and  handing  them  to  him,  continued  resolutely : 
*'  I'll  be  a  Spaniard  to-day.     Who  else  ?" 

**  I,  Ij  I  too,  for  aught  I  care,"  sjjiputed  several  of 
the  scholars,  and  the  forming  of  the  two  parties  would 

*  The  name  gi^n  in  Holland  to  those  who  sympathized  with 
iipain.  ' 


8  THE    burgomaster's    WIFE. 

have  been  carried  on  in  the  best  order  to  the  end,  if 
the  boys'  attention  had  not  been  diverted  by  a  fresh 
incident. 

A  young  gentleman,  followed  by  a  black  servant, 
came  up  the  street  directly  towards  them.  He  too  was 
a  Netherlander,  but  had  little  in  common  with  the 
school-boys  except  his  age,  a  red  and  white  complexion, 
fair  hair,  and  clear  blue  eyes,  eyes  that  looked  arro- 
gantly out  upon  the  world.  Every  step  showed  that  he 
considered  himself  an  important  personage,  and  the 
gaily-costumed  negro,  who  carried  a  few  recently  pur- 
chased articles  behind  him,  imitated  this  bearing  in  a 
most  comical  way.  The  negro's  head  was  held  still 
farther  back  than  the  young  noble's,  whose  stiff  Spanish 
ruff  prevented  him  from  moving  his  handsome  head  as 
freely  as  other  mortals. 

"  That  ape,  Wibisma,"  said  one  of  the  school-boys, 
pointing  to  the  approaching  nobleman. 

All  eyes  turned  towards  him,  scornfully  scanning  his 
httle  velvet  hat  decked  with  a  long  plume,  the  quilted 
red  satin  garment  padded  in  the  breast  and  sleeves,  the 
huge  puffs  of  his  short  brown  breeches,  and  the  brilliant 
scarlet  silk  stockings  that  closely  fitted  his  well-formed 
limbs. 

"  The  ape,"  repeated  Paul  Van  Swieten.  '^  He  wants 
to  be  a  cardinal,  that's  v/hy  he  wears  so  mucli  red." 

"And  looks  as  Spanish  as  if  he  came  straight  from 
Madrid,"  cried  another  lad,  while  a  third  added : 

"The  Wibismas  certainly  were  not  to  be  found 
here,  so  long  as  bread  was  short  with  us." 

The  Wibismas  are  all  Clippers. 

*'  And  he  struts  about  on  week-days,  dressed  in 
velvet  and  silk,"  said  Adrian.     "Just  look  at  the  black 


THE    BURGOMASTER  S    WIFE.  9 

boy  the  red-legged  stork  has  brought  with  him  to 
Leyden." 

The  scholars  burst  into  a  loud  laugh,  and  as  soon 
as  the  youth  had  reached  them,  Paul  Van  Swieten 
snarled  in  a  nasal  tone  : 

"How  did  deserting  suit  you?  How  are  affairs  in 
Spain,  master  Clipper  ?" 

The  young  noble  raised  his  head  still  higher,  the 
negro  did  the  same,  and  both  walked  quietly  on,  even 
when  Adrian  shouted  in  his  ear : 

"  Little  Clipper,  tell  me,  for  how  many  pieces  of 
silver  did  Judas  sell  the  Saviour  ?" 

Young  Matanesse  Van  Wibisma  made  an  indignant 
gesture,  but  controlled  himself  until  Jan  Mulder  stepped 
in  front  of  him,  holding,  his  little  cloth  cap,  into  which 
he  had  thrust  a  hen's  feather,  under  his  chin  like  a  beg- 
gar, and  saying  humbly : 

"  Cive  me  a  Httle  shrove-money  for  our  tom-cat,  Sir 
Crandee ;  he  stole  a  leg  of  veal  from  the  butcher  yes- 
terday." 

"  Out  of  my  way  1"  said  the  youth  in  a  haughty, 
resolute  tone,  trying  to  push  Mulder  aside  with  the 
back  of  his  hand. 

*'  Hands  off,  CUpper !"  cried  the  school-boys,  raising 
their  clenched  hands  threateningly. 

"  Then  let  me  alone,"  replied  Wibisma,  "  I  want  no 
quarrel,  least  of  all  with  you." 

"  Why  not  with  us  ?"  asked  Adrian  Van  der  Werff, 
irritated  by  the  supercilious,  arrogant  tone  of  the  last 
words. 

The  youth  shrugged  his  shoulders,  but  Adrian  cried: 

*'  Because  you  like  your  Spanish  costume  better  than 
our  doublets  of  Leyden  cloth.  " 


lO  THE    burgomaster's    WIFE. 

Here  he  paused,  for  Jan  Mulder  stole  behind 
Wibisma,  struck  his  hat  down  on  his  head  with  a  book, 
and  while  Nicolas  Van  Wibisma  was  trying  to  free  his 
eyes  from  the  covering  that  shaded  them,  exclaimed : 

"  There,  Sir  Grandee,  now  the  little  hat  sits  -firm  ! 
You  can  keep  it  on,  even  before  the  king." 

The  negro  could  not  go  to  his  master's  assistance, 
for  his  arms  were  filled  with  parcels,  but  the  young 
noble  did  not  call  him,  knowing  how  cowardly  his  black 
servant  was,  and  feeling  strong  enough  to  help  him- 
self. 

A  costly  clasp,  which  he  had  just  received  as  a  gift 
on  his  seventeenth  birthday,  confined  the  plume  in  his 
hat;  but  without  a  thought  he  flung  it  aside,  stretched 
out  his  arms  as  if  for  a  wrestling-match,  and  with 
flushed  cheeks,  asked  in  a  loud,  resolute  tone  :  '*  Who 
did  that?"    • 

Jan  Mulder  had  hastily  retreated  among  his  com- 
panions, and  instead  of  coming  forward  and  giving  his 
name,  called : 

"Look  for  the  hat-fuller,  Clipper!  We'll  play  blind- 
man's  buff"." 

The  youth,  frantic  with  rage,  repeated  his  question. 

When,  instead  of  any  other  answer,  the  boys  entered 
into  Jan  Mulder's  jest,  shouting  gaily :  "  Yes,  play 
blind-man's  buff"!  Look  for  the  hat-fuller.  Come,  little 
Clipper,  begin."  Nicolas  could  contain  himself  no 
longer,  but  shouted  furiously  to  the  laughing  throng  : 

"Cowardly  rabble!" 

Scarcely  had  the  words  been  uttered,  when  Paul  Van 
Swieten  raised  his  grammar,  bound  in  hog-skin,  and 
hurled  it  at  W^ibisma's  breast. 

Other  books  followed,  amid  loud  outcries,  striking 


THE    burgomaster's    WIFE.  11 

him  on  the  legs  and  shoulders.  Bewildered,  he  shielded 
his  face  with  his  hands  and  retreated  to  the  church-yard 
wall,  where  he  stood  still  and  prepared  to  rush  upon  his 
foes. 

The  stiff,  fashionable  high  Spanish  ruff  no  longer 
confined  his  handsome  head  with  its  floating  golden 
locks.  Freely  and  boldly  he  looked  his  enemies  in  the 
face,  stretched  the  young  limbs  hardened  by  many  a 
knightly  exercise,  and  with  a  tnie  Netherland  oath 
sprang  upon  Adrian  Van  der  Werff,  who  stood  nearest. 

After  a  short  struggle,  the  burgomaster's  son,  inferior 
in  strength  and  age  to  his  opponent,  lay  extended  on 
the  ground;  but  the  other  lads,  who  had  not  ceased 
shouting,  *' Clipper,  Clipper,"  seized  the  young  noble, 
who  was  kneeling  on  his  vanquished  foe. 

Nicolas  struggled  bravely,  but  his  enemies'  superior 
power  was  too  great. 

Frantic  with  fury,  wild  with  rage  and  shame,  he 
snatched  the  dagger  from  his  belt. 

The  boys  now  raised  a  frightful  yell,  and  two  of 
them  rushed  upon  Nicolas  to  wrest  the  weapon  from 
him.  This  was  quickly  accomplished ;  the  dagger  flew 
on  the  pavement,  but  Van  Swieten  sprang  back  with  a 
low  cry,  for  the  sharp  blade  had  struck  his  arm,  and  the 
bright  blood  streamed  on  the  ground. 

For  several  minutes  the  shouts  of  the  lads  and  the 
piteous  cries  of  the  black  page  drowned  the  beautiful 
melody  of  the  organ,  pouring  from  the  windows  of  the 
church.  Suddenly  the  music  ceased  ;  instead  of  the  in- 
tricate harmony  the  slowly-dying  note  of  a  single  pipe 
was  heard,  and  a  young  man  rushed  out  of  the  door  of 
the  sacristy  of  the  House  of  Cod.  He  quickly  per- 
ceived the  cause  of  the  wild  uproar  that  had  interrupted 


12  THE    burgomaster's    WIFE. 

his  practising,  and  a  smile  flitted  over  the  handsome 
face  which,  framed  by  a  closely-cut  beard,  had  just 
looked  startled  enough,  though  the  reproving  words 
and  pushes  with  which  he  separated  the  enraged  lads 
were  earnest  enough,  and  by  no  means  failed  to  produce 
their  effect. 

The  boys  knew  the  musician,  Wilhelm  Corneliussohn, 
and  offered  no  resistance,  for  they  liked  him,  and  his 
dozen  years  of  seniority  gave  him  an  undisputed 
authority  among  them.  Not  a  hand  was  again  raised 
against  Wibisma,  but  the  boys,  all  shouting  and  talking 
together,  crowded  around  the  organist  to  accuse  Nic- 
olas and  defend  themselves. 

Paul  Van  Swieten's  wound  was  slight.  He  stood 
outside  the  circle  of  his  companions,  supporting  the 
injured  left  arm  with  his  right  hand.  He  frequendy 
blew  upon  the  burning  spot  in  his  flesh,  over  which  a 
bit  of  cloth  was  wrapped,  but  curiosity  concerning  the 
result  of  this  entertaining  brawl  was  stronger  than  the 
wish  to  have  it  bandaged  and  healed. 

As  the  peace-maker's  work  was  already  drawing  to  a 
close,  the  wounded  lad,  pointing  with  his  sound  hand  in 
the  direction  of  the  school,  suddenly  called  warningly: 

"  There  comes  Herr  von  Nordwyk.  Let  the  Gllpper 
go,  or  there  will  be  trouble." 

Paul  Van  Svvieten  again  clasped  his  wounded  arm 
Avith  his  right  hand  and  ran  swiftly  around  the  church. 
Several  other  boys  followed,  but  the  new-comer  of  whom 
they  were  afraid,  a  man  scarcely  thirty  years  old,  had 
legs  of  considerable  length,  and  knew  how  to  use  them 
bravely. 

"  Stop,  boys ! "  he  shouted  in  an  echoing  voice  of 
command.     "  Stop  !     What  has  happened  here  ?" 


THE    BURGOMASTER  S    WIFE.  I5 

Every  one  in  Leyden  respected  the  learned  and 
brave  young  nobleman,  so  all  the  lads  who  had  not 
instantly  obeyed  Van  Swieten's  warning  shout,  stood 
still  until  Herr  von  Nordwyk  reached  them. 

A  strange,  eager  light  sparkled  in  this  man's  clever 
eyes,  and  a  subtle  smile  hovered  around  his  moustached 
lip,  as  he  called  to  the  musician : 

"  What  has  happened  here,  Meister  Wilhelm  ? 
Didn't  the  clamor  of  Minerva's  apprentices  harmonize 
with  your  organ-playing,  or  did  —  but  by  all  the  colors 
of  Iris,  that's  surely  Nico  Matanesse,  young  Wibisma ! 
And  how  he  looks  !  Brawling  in  the  shadow  of  the 
church  —  and  you  here  too,  Adrian,  and  you,  Meister 
Wilhelm?" 

"  I  separated  them,"  replied  the  other  quietly, 
smoothing  his  rumpled  cuffs. 

"  With  perfect  calmness,  but  impressively  —  like 
your  organ-music,"  said  the  commander,  laughing. 
"Who  began  the  fight?  You,  young  sir?  or  the 
others  ?  " 

Nicolas,  in  his  excitement,  shame,  and  indignation^ 
could  find  no  coherent  words,  but  Adrian  came  forward 
saying:  "We  wrestled  together.  Don't  be  too  much 
vexed  with  us,  Herr  Janus." 

Nicolas  cast  a  friendly  glance  at  his  foe. 

Herr  von  Nordwyk,  Jan  Van  der  Does,  or  as  a 
learned  man  he  preferred  to  call  himself,  Janus  Dousa, 
was  by  no  means  satisfied  with  this  information,  but 
exclaimed : 

"  Patience,  patience !  You  look  suspicious  enough^ 
Meister  Adrian;  come  here  and  tell  me,  ^atrekeos^  ac- 
cording to  the  truth,  what  has  been  going  on." 

The  boy  obeyed  the  command  and  told  his  story 


14  THE    BURGOMASTERS    WIFE. 

honestly,  without  conceaHng  or  paUiating  anything  that 
had  occurred. 

"  Hm,"  said  Dousa,  after  the  lad  had  finished  his 
report.  "A  difficult  case.  No  one  is  to  be  acquitted. 
Your  cause  would  be  the  better  one,  had  it  not  been  for 
the  knife,  my  fine  young  nobleman,  but  you,  Adrian, 
and  you,  you  chubby-cheeked  rascals,  who — There 
comes  the  rector — If  he  catches  you,  you'll  certainly 
see  nothing  but  four  walls  the  rest  of  this  beautiful  day. 
I  should  be  sorry  for  that." 

The  chubby-cheeked  rascals,  and  Adrian  also,  under- 
stood this  hint,  and  without  stopping  to  take  leave 
scampered  around  the  comer  of  the  church  like  a  flock 
of  doves  pursued  by  a  hawk. 

As  soon  as  they  had  vanished,  the  commander  ap- 
proached young  Nicolas,  saying: 

"Vexatious  business!  What  was  right  to  them  is 
just  to  you.  Go  to  your  home.  Are  you  visiting  your 
aunt  ?" 

"  Yes,  my  lord,"  replied  the  young  noble. 

"  Is  your  father  in  the  city  too  ?" 

Nicolas  was  silent. 

"  He  doesn't  wish  to  be  seen  ?'* 

Nicolas  nodded  assent,  and  Dousa  continued  : 

""Leyden  stands  open  to  every  Netherlander,  even 
to  you.  To  be  sure,  if  you  go  about  like  King  Philip's 
page,  and  show  contempt  to  your  equals,  you  must  en- 
dure the  consequences  yourself  There  lies  the  dagger, 
my  young  friend,  and  there  is  your  hat.  Pick  them 
up,  and  remember  that  such  a  weapon  is  no  toy.  Many 
a  man  has  spoiled  his  whole  life,  by  thoughtlessly 
using  one  a  single  moment.  The  superior  numbers 
that   pressed   upon   you   may    excuse  you.      But  how 


THE    BURGOMASTERS    WIFE.  1 5 

will  you  get  to  your  aunt's  house  in  that  tattered 
doublet  ?'* 

"  My  cloak  is  in  the  church,"  said  the  musician,  "  I'll 
give  it  to  the  young  gentleman." 

"  Bravo,  Meister  Wilhelm  !"  replied  Dousa.  "  Wait 
here,  my  little  master,  and  then  go  home.  I  wish  the 
time,  when  your  father  would  value  my  greeting,  might 
come  again.  Do  you  know  why  it  is  no  longer  pleasant 
to  him  ?" 

"  No,  my  lord." 

"  Then  I'll  tell  you.  Because  he  is  fond  of  Spain, 
and  I  cling  to  the  Netherlands." 

"  We  are  Netherland«rs  as  well  as  you,"  replied 
Nicolas  with  glowing  cheeks. 

"  Scarcely,"  answered  Dousa  calmly,  putting  his 
hand  up  to  his  thin  chin,  and  intending  to  add  a  kinder 
word  to  the  sharp  one,  when  the  youth  vehemently  ex- 
claimed : 

"Take  back  that  *  scarcely,*  Herr  von  Nordwyk." 

Dousa  gazed  at  the  bold  lad  in  surprise,  and  again 
an  expression  of  amusement  hovered  about  his  lips. 
Then  he  said  kindly  : 

"  I  like  you,  Herr  Nicolas ;  and  shall  rejoice  if  you 
wish  to  become  a  true  Hollander.  There  comes  Meister 
Wilhelm  with  his  cloak.  Give  me  your  hand.  No,  not 
this  one,  the  other." 

Nicolas  hesitated,  but  Janus  grasped  the  boy's  right 
hand  in  both  of  his,  bent  his  tall  figure  to  the  latter's 
ear,  and  said  in  so  low  a  tone  that  the  musician  could 
not  understand  : 

"  Ere  we  part,  take  with  you  this  word  of  counsel 
from  one  who  means  kindly.  Chains,  even  golden  ones, 
drag  us  down,  but  liberty  gives  wings.     You  shine  in 


l6  THE    burgomaster's    WIFE.  \ 

the  glittering  splendor,  but  we  strike  the  Spanish  chains  I 

with   the  sword,  and    I    devote  myself  to    our   work.  \ 

Remember  these  words,  and  if  you  choose  repeat  them  \ 

to  your  father."  : 

Janus  Dousa  turned  his  back  on  the  boy,  waved  a  ] 

farewell  to  the  musician,  and  went  away.  j 


CHAPTER  II. 

Young  Adrian  hurried  down  the  AVerfFsteg,  which 
had  given  his  family  its  name.  He  heeded  neither  the 
lindens  on  both  sides,  amid  whose  tops  the  first  tiny 
green  leaves  were  forcing  their  way  out  of  the  pointed 
buds,  nor  the  birds  that  flew  hither  and  thither  among 
the  hospitable  boughs  of  the  stately  trees,  building  their 
nests  and  twittering  to  each  other,  for  he  had  no  thought 
in  his  mind  except  to  reach  home  as  quickly  as  possible. 

Beyond  the  bridge  spanning  the  Achtergracht,  he 
paused  irresolutely  before  a  large  building. 

The  knocker  hung  on  the  central  door,  but  he  did 
not  venture  to  lift  it  and  let  it  fall  on  the  shining  plate 
beneath,  for  he  could  expect  no  pleasant  reception  from 
his  family. 

His  doublet  had  fared  ill  during  his  struggle  with  his 
stronger  enemy.  The  torn  neck-ruffles  had  been  re- 
moved from  their  proper  place  and  thrust  into  his 
pocket,  and  the  new  violet  stocking  on  his  right  leg, 
luckless  thing,  liad  been  so  frayed  by  rubbing  on  the 
pavement,  that  a  large  yawning  rent  showed  far  more  of 
Adrian's  white  knee  than  was  agreeable  to  him. 

The  peacock  feather  in  his  little  velvet  cap  could 


THE    burgomaster's    WIFE.  1/ 

easily  be  replaced,  but  the  doublet  was  torn,  not  ripped, 
and  the  stocking  scarcely  capable  of  being  mended. 

The  boy  was  sincerely  sorry,  for  his  father  had  bade 
him  take  good  care  of  tl^e  stuff  to  save  money ;  during 
these  times  there  were  hard  shifts  in  the  big  house, 
which  with  its  three  doors,  triple  gables  adorned  with 
beautifully-arched  volutes,  and  six  windows  in  the  upper 
and  lower  stories,  fronted  the  Werffsteg  in  a  very  proud, 
stately  guise. 

The  burgomaster's  office  did  not  bring  in  a  large  in- 
come, and  Adrian's  grandfather's  trade  of  preparing 
chamois  leather,  as  well  as  the  business  in  skins,  was 
falling  off;  his  father  had  other  matters  in  his  head, 
matters  that  claimed  not  only  his  intellect,  strength  and 
time,  but  also  every  superfluous  farthing. 

Adrian  had  nothing  pleasant  to  expect  at  home — 
certainly  not  from  his  father,  far  less  from  his  aunt 
Barbara.  Yet  the  boy  dreaded  the  anger  of  these  two 
far  less,  than  a  single  disapproving  glance  from  the  eyes  of 
the  young  wife,  whom  he  had  called  '^  mother"  scarcely 
a  twelve  month,  and  who  was  only  six  years  his  senior. 

She  never  said  an  unkind  word  to  him,  but  his  de- 
fiance and  wildness  melted  before  her  beauty,  her'quiet, 
aristocratic  manner.  He  scarcely  knew  himself  whether 
he  loved  her  or  not,  but  she  appeared  like  the  good  fairy 
of  whom  the  fairy  tales  spoke,  and  it  often  seemed  as  if 
she  were  far  too  delicate,  dainty  and  charming  for  her 
simple,  unpretending  home.  To  see  her  smile  rendered 
the  boy  happy,  and  when  she  looked  sad — a  thing  that 
often  happened — it  made  his  heart  ache.  Merciful 
Heavens !  She  certainly  could  not  receive  him  kindly 
when  she  saw  his  doublet,  the  ruffles  thrust  into  his 
pocket,  and  his  unlucky  stockings. 


Id  THE    BURGOMASTERS    WIFE. 

And  then ! 

There  were  the  bells  ringing  again ! 

The  dinner  hour  had  long  since  passed,  and  his 
father  waited  for  no  one.  Whoever  came  too  late  must  go 
without,  unless  Aunt  Barbara  took  compassion  on  him 
in  the  kitchen. 

But  what  was  the  use  of  pondering  and  hesitating  ? 

Adrian  summoned  up  all  his  courage,  clenched  his 
teeth,  clasped  his  right  hand  still  closer  around  the 
torn  ruffles  in  his  pocket,  and  struck  the  knocker  loudly 
on  the  steel  plate  beneath. 

Trautchen,  the  old  maid-servant,  opened  the  door, 
and  in  the  spacious,  dusky  entrance-hall,  where  the  bales 
of  leather  were  packed  closely  together,  did  not  notice 
the  dilapidation  of  his  outer  man. 

He  hurried  swiftly  up  the  stairs. 

The  dining-room  door  was  open,  and — marvellous 
— the  table  was  still  untouched,  his  father  must  have 
remained  at  the  town-hall  longer  than  usual. 

Adrian  rushed  with  long  leaps  to  his  little  attic  room, 
dressed  himself  neatly,  and  entered  the  presence  of  his 
family  before  the  master  of  the  house  had  asked  the 
blessing. 

The  doublet  and  stocking  could  be  confided  to  the 
hands  of  Aunt  Barbara  or  Trautchen,  at  some  opportune 
hour. 

Adrian  sturdily  attacked  the  smoking  dishes;  but 
his  heart  soon  grew  heavy,  for  his  father  did  not  utter  a 
word,  and  gazed  into  vacancy  as  gravely  and  anxiously 
as  at  the  time  when  misery  entered  the  beleagured  city. 

The  boy's  young  step-mother  sat  opposite  her  hus- 
band, and  often  glanced  at  Peter  Van  der  Werft^'s  grave 
face  to  win  a  loving  glance  from  him. 


THE    BURGOMASTER  S    WIFE.  I9 

Whenever  she  did  so  in  vain,  she  pushed  her  soft, 
golden  hair  back  from  her  forehead,  raised  her  beautiful 
head  higher,  or  bit  her  lips  and  gazed  silently  into  her 
plate. 

In  reply  to  Aunt  Barbara's  questions :  "  What  hap- 
pened at  the  council  ?  Has  the  money  for  the  new  bell 
been  collected  ?  Will  Jacob  Van  Sloten  rent  you  the 
meadow  ?"  he  made  curt,  evasive  replies. 

The  steadfast  man,  who  sat  so  silently  with  frowning 
brow  among  his  family,  sometimes  attacking  the  viands 
on  his  plate,  then  leaving  them  untouched,  did  not  look 
like  one  who  yields  to  idle  whims. 

All  present,  even  the  men  and  maid-servants,  were 
still  devoting  themselves  to  the  food,  when  the  master 
of  the  house  rose,  and  pressing  both  hands  over  the 
back  of  his  head,  which  was  very  prominently  devel- 
oped, exclaimed  groaning : 

"  I  can  hold  out  no  longer.  Do  you  give  thanks, 
Maria.  Go  to  the  town-hall,  Janche,  and  ask  if  no 
messenger  has  yet  arrived." 

The  man-servant  wiped  his  mouth  and  instantly 
obeyed.  He  was  a  tall,  broad-shouldered  Frieselander, 
but  only  reached  to  his  master's  forehead. 

Peter  Van  der  Werfif,  without  any  form  of  salutation, 
turned  his  back  on  his  family,  opened  the  door  leading 
into  his  study,  and  after  crossing  the  threshold,  closed  it 
with  a  bang,  approached  the  big  oak  writing-desk,  on 
which  papers  and  letters  lay  piled  in  heaps,  secured  by 
rough  leaden  weights,  and  began  to  rummage  among 
the  newly-arrived  documents.  For  fifteen  minutes  he 
vainly  strove  to  fix  the  necessary  attention  upon  his 
task,  then  grasped  his  study-chair  to  rest  his  folded  arms 
on  the  high,  perforated  back,  adorned  with  simple  carv- 


20  THE     BURGOMASTERS    WIFE. 

ing,  and  gazed  thoughtfully  at  the  wooden  wainscoting 
of  the  ceiling.  After  a  few  minutes  he  pushed  the  chair 
aside  with  his  foot,  raised  his  hand  to  his  mouth,  sep- 
arated his  moustache  from  his  thick  brown  beard,  and 
went  to  the  window.  The  small,  round,  leaden-cased 
panes,  however  brightly  they  might  be  polished,  per- 
mitted only  a  narrow  portion  of  the  street  to  be  seen, 
but  the  burgomaster  seemed  to  have  found  the  object 
for  which  he  had  been  looking.  Hastily  opening  the 
window,  he  called  to  his  servant,  who  was  hurriedly  ap- 
proaching the  house : 

"  Is  he  in,  Janche  ?  " 

The  Frieselander  shook  his  head,  the  window  again 
closed,  and  a  few  minutes  after  the  burgomaster  seized 
his  hat,  which  hung,  between  some  cavalry  pistols  and 
a  plain,  substantial  sword,  on  the  only  wall  of  his  room 
not  perfectly  bare. 

The  torturing  anxiety  that  filled  his  mind,  would  no 
longer  allow  him  to  remain  in  the  house. 

He  would  have  his  horse  saddled,  and  ride  to  meet 
the  expected  messenger. 

Ere  leaving  the  room,  he  paused  a  moment  lost  in 
thought,  then  approached  the  writing-table  to  sign  some 
papers  intended  for  the  town-hall;  for  his  return  might 
be  delayed  till  night. 

Still  standing,  he  looked  over  the  two  sheets  he  had 
spread  out  before  him,  and  seized  the  pen.  Just  at  that 
moment  the  door  of  the  room  gently  opened,  and  the 
fresh  sand  strewn  over  the  white  boards  creaked  under 
a  light  foot.  He  doubtless  heard  it,  but  did  not  allow 
himself  to  be  interrupted. 

His  wife  was  now  standing  close  behind  him.  Four 
and  twenty  years  his  junior,  she  seemed  like  a  timid  girl. 


THE    burgomaster's    WIFE.  21 

as  she  raised  her  arm,  yet  did  not  venture  to  divert  her 
husband's  attention  from  his  business. 

She  waited  quietly  till  he  had  signed  the  first  paper, 
then  turned  her  pretty  head  aside,  and  blushing  faintly, 
exclaimed  with  downcast  eyes: 

^'It  is  I,  Peter!" 

"Very  well,  my  child,"  he  answered  curtly,  raising 
the  second  paper  nearer  his  eyes. 

"Peter!"  she  exclaimed  a  second  time,  still  more 
eagerly,  but  with  timidity.  "  I  have  something  to  tell 
you." 

Van  der  Werff  turned  his  head,  cast  a  hasty,  affec- 
tionate glance  at  her,  and  said: 

"Now,  child?  You  see  I  am  busy,  and  there  is  my 
hat." 

"But  Peter!"  she  replied,  a  flash  of  something  like 
indignation  sparkling  in  her  eyes,  as  she  continued  m  a 
voice  pervaded  with  a  slightly  perceptible  tone  of  com- 
plaint: "We  haven't  said  anything  to  each  other  to-day. 
My  heart  is  so  full,  and  what  I  would  fain  say  to  you  is, 
must  surely — " 

"When  I  come  home  Maria,  not  now,"  he  inter- 
rupted, his  deep  voice  sounding  half  impatient,  half 
beseeching.  "First  the  city  and  the  country — then 
love-making." 

At  these  words,  Maria  raised  her  head  proudly,  and 
answered  with  quivering  lips: 

"That  is  what  you  have  said  ever  since  the  first  day 
of  our  marriage." 

"And  unhappily — unhappily — I  must  continue  to 
say  so  until  we  reach  the  goal,"  he  answered  firmly. 

The  blood  mounted  into  the  young  wife's  delicate 


2  2  THE    burgomaster's    WIFE. 

cheeks,  and  with  quickened  breathing,  she  answered  in 
a  hasty,  resolute  tone: 

"Yes,  indeed,  I  have  known  these  words  ever  since 
your  courtship,  and  as  I  am  my  father's  daughter  never 
opposed  them,  but  now  they  are  no  longer  suited  to  us, 
and  should  be :  '  Everything  for  the  country,  and  nothing 
at  all  for  the  wife.'  " 

Van  der  Werff  laid  down  his  pen  and  turned  full 
towards  her. 

Maria's  slender  figure  seemed  to  have  grown  taller, 
and  the  blue  eyes,  swimming  in  tears,  flashed  proudly. 
This  life-companion  seemed  to  have  been  created  by 
God  especially  for  him.  His  heart  opened  to  her,  and 
frankly  stretching  out  both  hands,  he  said  tenderly : 

*' You  know  how  matters  are!  This  heart  is  change- 
less, and  other  days  will  come." 

"  When  ?"  asked  Maria,  in  a  tone  as  mournful  as  if 
she  beheved  in  no  happier  future. 

"  Soon,"  rephed  her  husband  firmly.  "  Soon,  if 
only  each  one  gives  willingly  what  our  native  land 
demands." 

At  these  words  the  young  wife  loosed  her  hands 
from  her  husband's,  for  the  door  had  opened  and  Bar- 
bara called  to  her  brother  from  the  threshold. 

'^  Herr  Matanesse  Van  Wibisma,  the  GHpper,  is  in 
the  entry  and  wants  to  speak  to  you." 

"  Show  him  up,"  said  the  burgomaster  reluctantly. 

When  again  alone  with  his  wife,  he  asked  hastily : 

"  Will  you  be  indulgent  and  help  me  ?" 

She  nodded  assent,  trying  to  smile. 

He  saw  that  she  was  sad  and,  as  this  grieved  him, 
held  out  his  hand  to  her  again,  saying: 

"  Better  days  will  come,  when  I  shall  be  permitted 


THE    burgomaster's    WIFE.  23 

to  be  more  to  you  than  to-day.  What  were  you  going 
to  say  just  now  ?" 

"  Whether  you  know  it  or  not — is  of  no  importance 
to  the  state." 

"  But  to  you.  Then  Hft  up  your  head  again,  and 
look  at  me.  Quick,  love,  for  they  are  already  on  the 
stairs." 

"  It  isn't  worth  mentioning — a  year  ago  to-day — 
we  might  celebrate  the  anniversary  of  our  wedding 
to-day." 

"  The  anniversary  of  our  wedding-day !"  he  cried, 
striking  his  hands  loudly  together.  "  Yes,  this  is  the 
seventeenth  of  April,  and  I.  have  forgotten  it." 

He  drew  her  tenderly  towards  him,  but  just  at  that 
moment  the  door  opened,  and  Adrian  ushered  the  baron 
into  the  room. 

Van  der  Werff  bowed  courteously  to  the  infrequent 
guest,  then  called  to  his  blushing  wife,  who  was  retiring : 

"  My  congratulations  !  I'll  come  later.  x\drian,  we 
are  to  celebrate  a  beautiful  festival  to-day,  the  anniver- 
sary of  our  marriage." 

The  boy  glided  swiftly  out  of  the  door,  which  he  still 
held  in  his  hand,  for  he  suspected  the  aristocratic  visi- 
tor boded  him  no  good. 

In  the  entry  he  paused  to  think,  then  hurried  up  the 
stairs,  seized  his  plumeless  cap,  and  rushed  out  of  doors. 

He  saw  his  school-mates,  armed  with  sticks  and  poles, 
ranging  themselves  in  battle  array,  and  would  have  liked 
to  join  the  game  of  war,  but  for  that  very  reason  pre- 
ferred not  to  listen  to  the  shouts  of  the  combatants  at 
that  moment,  and  ran  towards  the  Zylhof  until  beyond 
the  sound  of  their  voices. 

He  now  checked  his  steps,  and  in  a  stooping  posture, 


24  THE    BURGOMASTER  S    WIFE. 

often  on  his  knees,  followed  the  windings  of  a  narrow 
canal  that  emptied  into  the  Rhine. 

As  soon  as  his  cap  was  overflowing  with  the  white, 
blue,  and  yellow  spring  flowers  he  had  gathered,  he  sat 
down  on  a  boundary  stone,  and  with  sparkling  eyes 
bound  them  into  a  beautiful  bouquet,  with  which  he  ran 
home. 

On  the  bench  beside  the  gate  sat  the  old  maid-ser- 
vant with  his  little  sister,  a  child  six  years  old.  Hand- 
ing the  flowers,  which  he  had  kept  hidden  behind  his 
back,  to  her,  he  said : 

"  Take  them  and  carry  them  to  mother,  Bessie ;  this 
is  the  anniversary  of  her  wedding-day.  Give  her  warm 
congratulations  too,  from  us  both." 

The  child  rose,  and  the  old  servant  said : 

"  You  are  a  good  boy,  Adrian." 

"  Do  you  think  so  ?"  he  asked,  all  the  sins  of  the 
forenoon  returning  to  his  mind. 

But  unluckily  they  caused  him  no  repentance ;  on 
the  contrary,  his  eyes  began  to  sparkle  mischievously, 
and  a  smile  hovered  around  his  lips,  as  he  patted  the 
old  woman's  shoulder,  whispering  softly  in  her  ear :. 

"The  hair  flew  to-day,  Trautchen.  My  doublet  and 
new  stockings  are  lying  up  in  my  room  under  the  bed. 
Nobody  can  mend  as  well  as  you." 

Trautchen  shook  her  finger  at  him,  but  he  turned 
hastily  back  and  ran  towards  the  Zyl-gate,  this  time  to 
lead  the  Spaniards  against  the  Netherlanders. 


THE    burgomaster's    WIFE.  25 


CHAPTER  III. 

The  burgomaster  had  pressed  the  nobleman  to  sit 
down  in  the  study-chair,  while  he  himself  leaned  in  a 
half-sitting  attitude  on  the  writing-table,  listening  some- 
what impatiently  to  his  distinguished  guest. 

"  Before  speaking  of  more  important  things,"  Herr 
Matanesse  Van  Wibisma  had  begun,  "  I  should  like  to 
appeal  to  you,  as  a  just  man,  for  some  punishment  for 
the  injury  my  son  has  sustained  in  this  city." 

^' Speak,"  said  the  burgomaster,  and  the  nobleman 
now  briefly,  and  with  unconcealed  indignation,  related 
the  story  of  the  attack  upon  his  son  at  the  church. 

^Tll  inform  the  rector  of  the  annoying  incident," 
replied  Van  der  Werff,  "  and  the  culprits  will  receive  their 
just  dues;  but  pardon  me,  noble  sir,  if  I  ask  whether  any 
inquiry  has  been  made  concerning  the  cause  of  the 
quarrel?" 

Herr  Matanesse  Van  Wibisma  looked  at  the  burgo- 
master in  surprise  and  answered  proudly: 

"You  know  my  son's  report." 

"  Both  sides  must  be  fairly  heard,"  replied  Van  der 
Werff  calmly.  "That  has  been  the  custom  of  the  Neth- 
erlands from  ancient  times." 

"  My  son  bears  my  name  and  speaks  the  truth." 

"  Our  boys  are  called  simply  Leendert  or  Adrian  or 
Gerrit,  but  they  do  the  same,  so  I  must  beg  you  to  send 
the  young  gentleman  to  the  examination  at  the  school." 

"  By  no  means,"  answered  the  knight  resolutely.  "  If 
1  had  thought  the  matter  belonged  to  the  rector's  de- 


26  THE    burgomaster's    WIFE. 

partment,  I  should  have  sought  him  and  not  you,  Herr 
Peter.  My  son  has  his  own  tutor,  and  was  not  attacked 
in  your  school,  which  in  any  case  he  has  outgrown,  for 
he  is  seventeen,  but  in  the  public  street,  whose  security 
it  is  the  burgomaster's  duty  to  guard." 

"  Very  well  then,  make  your  complaint,  take  the 
youth  before  the  judges,  summon  witnesses  and  let  the 
law  follow  its  course.  But,  sir,"  continued  Van  der 
Werff,  softening  the  impatience  in  his  voice,  "were  you. 
not  young  yourself  once?  Have  you  entirely  forgotten 
the  fights  under  the  citadel?  What  pleasure  will  it 
afford  you,  if  we  lock  up  a  few  thoughtless  lads  for  two 
days  this  sunny  weather?  The  scamps  will  find  some- 
thing amusing  to  do  indoors,  as  well  as  out,  and  only 
the  parents  will  be  punished." 

The  last  words  were  uttered  so  cordially  and  pleas- 
antly, that  they  could  not  fail  to  have  their  effect  upon 
the  baron.  He  was  a  handsome  man,  whose  refined,, 
agreeable  features,  of  the  true  Netherland  type,  ex- 
pressed anything  rather  than  severity. 

'*  If  you  speak  to  me  in  this  tone,  we  shall  come  to 
an  agreement  more  easily,"  he  answered,  smiling.  "  I 
will  only  say  this.  Had  the  brawl  arisen  in  sport,  or 
from  some  boyish  quarrel,  I  wouldn't  have  wasted  a  word 
on  the  matter — but  that  children  already  venture  to  as- 
sail with  jeers  and  violence  those  who  hold  different 
opinions,  ought  not  to  be  permitted  to  pass  without  re- 
proof. The  boys  shouted  after  my  son  the  absurd 
word — " 

"  It  is  certainly  an  insult,"  interrupted  Van  der 
Werff,  "  a  very  disagreeable  name,  that  our  people  be- 
stow on  the  enemies  of  their  liberty." 

The  baron  rose,  angrily  confronting  the  other. 


THE    BURGOMASTER  S    WIFE.  27 

"  Who  tells  you,"  he  cried,  striking  his  broad  breast, 
padded  with  silken  puffs,  '^  who  tells  you  that  we  grudge 
Holland  her  liberty  ?  We  desire,  just  as  earnestly  as 
you,  to  win  it  back  to"~the  States,  but  by  other,  straighter 
paths  than  Orange — " 

'*  I  cannot  test  here  whether  your  paths  are  crooked 
or  straight,"  retorted  Van  der  Werff ;  "  but  I  do  know 
this — they  are  labyrinths." 

^'  They  will  lead  to  the  heart  of  Philip,  our  king  and 
yours." 

"  Yes,  if  he  only  had  what  we  in  Holland  call  a 
heart,"  replied  the  other,  smiling  bitterly ;  but  Wibisma 
threw  his  head  back  vehemently,  exclaiming  reproach- 
fully : 

"  Sir  Burgomaster,  you  are  speaking  of  the  anointed 
Prince  to  whom  I  have  sworn  fealty." 

"  Baron  Matanesse,"  replied  Van  der  Werff,  in  a  tone 
of  deep  earnestness,  as  he  drew  himself  up  to  his  full 
height,  folded  his  arms,  and  looked  the  nobleman  sharply 
in  the  eye,  "  I  speak  rather  of  the  tyrant,  whose  bloody 
council  declared  all  who  bore  the  Netherland  name,  and 
you  among  us,  criminals  worthy  of  death ;  who,  through 
his  destroying  devil,  Alva,  burned,  beheaded,  and  hung 
thousands  of  honest  men,  robbed  and  exiled  from  the 
country  thousands  of  others,  I  speak  of  the  profligate — " 

"  Enough!"  cried  the  knight,  clenching  the  hilt  of  his 
sword.     "  Who  gives  you  the  right — " 

"Who  gives  me  the  right  to  speak  so  bitterly,  you 
would  ask?"  interrupted  Peter  Van  der  Werff,  meeting 
the  nobleman's  eyes  with  a  gloomy  glance.  "Who  gives 
me  this  right?  I  need  not  conceal  it.  It  was  bestowed 
by  the  silent  lips  of  my  valiant  father,  beheaded  for  the 
sake  of  his  faith,  by  the  arbitrary  decree,  that  without 


28  THE    burgomaster's    WIFE. 

form  of  law,  banished  my  brother  and  myself  from  the 
country — by  the  Spaniards'  broken  vows,  the  torn  char- 
ters of  this  land,  the  suffering  of  the  poor,  ill-treated, 
worthy  people  that  will  perish  if  we  do  not  save  them.*' 

"You  will  not  save  them,"  replied  Wibisma  in  a 
calmer  tone.  "You  will  push  those  tottering  on  the 
verge  of  the  abyss  completely  over  the  precipice,  and  go 
to  destruction  with  them." 

"We  are  pilots.  Perhaps  we  shall  bring  deliverance, 
perhaps  we  shall  go  to  ruin  with  those  for  whom  we  are 
ready  to  die." 

"You  say  that,  and  yet  a  young,  blooming  wife  binds 
you  to  life." 

"Baron,  you  have  crossed  this  threshold  as  com- 
plainant to  the  burgomaster,  not  as  guest  or  friend." 

"Quite  true,  but  I  came  with  kind  intentions,  as 
monitor  to  the  guiding  head  of  this  beautiful,  hapless 
city.  You  have  escaped  the  storm  once,  but  new  and 
far  heavier  ones  are  gathering  above  your  heads."    " 

"We  do  not  fear  them." 

"Not  even  now?" 

"  Now,  with  good  reason,  far  less  than  ever." 

"Then  you  don't  know  the  Prince's  brother — " 

"  Louis  of  Nassau  was  close  upon  the  Spaniards  on 
the  14th,  and  our  cause  is  doing  well — " 

"  It  certainly  did  not  fare  ill  at  first." 

"The  messenger,  who  yesterday  evening — " 

"Ours  came  this  morning." 

"This  morning,  you  say?     And  what  more — " 

"The  Prince's  army  was  defeated  and  utterly  de- 
stroyed on  Mook  Heath.  Louis  of  Nassau  himself  was 
slain." 

Van  der  Werff  pressed  his  fingers  firmly  on  the  wood 


THE    BURGOMASTER  S    WIFE".  29 

of  the  writing-table.  The  fresh  color  of  his  cheeks  and 
lips  had  yielded  to  a  livid  pallor,  and  his  mouth  quiv- 
ered painfully  as  he  asked  in  a  low,  hollow  tone,  "  Louis 
dead,  really  dead?" 

"  Dead,"  replied  the  baron  firmly,  though  sorrowfully. 
"We  were  enemies,  but  Louis  was  a  noble  youth.  I 
mourn  him  with  you." 

"Dead,  William's  favorite  dead!"  murmured  the  bur- 
gomaster as  if  in  a  dream.  Then,  controlling  himself  by 
a  violent  effort,  he  said,  firmly: 

"  Pardon  me,  noble  sir.  Time  is  flying.  I  must  go 
to  the  town-hall." 

"And  spite  of  my  message,  you  will  continue  to  up- 
hold rebelHon?" 

"Yes,  my  lord,  as  surely  as  I  am  a  Hollander." 

"  Do  you  remember  the  fate  of  Haarlem  ?" 

"  I  remember  her  citizens'  resistance,  and  the  rescued 
Alkmaar." 

"Man,  man!"  cried  the  baron.  "By  all  that  is 
sacred,  I  miplore  you  to  be  circumspect." 

"  Enough,  baron,  I  must  go  to  the  town-hall." 

"  No,  only  this  one  more  word,  this  one  word.  I 
know  you  upbraid  us  as  *  Clippers,'  deserters,  but  as 
truly  as  I  hope  for  God's  mercy,  you  misjudge  us.  No, 
Herr  Peter,  no,  I  am  no  traitor!  I  love  this  country  and 
this  brave,  industrious  people  with  the  same  love  as 
yourself,  for  its  blood  flows  in  my  veins  also.  I  signed 
the  compromise.  Here  I  stand,  sir.  Look  at  me.  Do 
1  look  like  a  Judas?  Do  I  look  like  a  Spaniard?  Can 
you  blame  me  for  faithfully  keeping  the  oath  I  gave  the 
king?  When  did  we  of  the  Netherlands  ever  trifle  with 
vows  ?  You,  the  friend  of  Orange,  have  just  declared 
that  you  did  not  grudge  any  man  the  faith  to  which  he 


30  THE    burgomaster's    WIFE. 

clung,  and  I  will  not  doubt  it.  Well,  I  hold  firmly  to 
the  old  church,  I  am  a  Catholic  and  shall  remain  one. 
But  in  this  hour  I  fi-ankly  confess,  that  I  hate  the  inqui- 
sition and  Alva's  bloody  deeds  as  much  as  you  do. 
They  have  as  little  connection  with  our  religion  as  icon- 
oclasm  had  with  yours  Like  you,  I  love  the  fi-eedom 
of  our  home.  To  win  it  back  is  my  endeavor,  as  well  as 
yours.  But  how  can  a  Httle  handful  like  us  ever  suc- 
ceed in  finally  resisting  the  most  powerful  kingdom  in 
the  world  ?  Though  we  conquer  once,  twice,  thrice, 
two  stronger  armies  will  follow  each  defeated  one.  We 
shall  accomplish  nothing  by  force,  but  may  do^iiuch  by 
wise  concession  and  prudent  deeds.  Philip's  coffers  are 
empty ;  he  needs  his  armies  too  in  other  countries.  Well 
then,  let  us  profit  by  his  difficulties,  and  force  him  to 
ratify  some  lOs^  liberty  for  every  revolted  city  that  re- 
turns to  him.  Let  us  buy  from  his  hands,  with  what 
remains  of  our  old  wealth,  the  rights  he  has  wrested  from 
us  while  fighting  against  the  rebels.  You  will  find  open 
hands  with  me  and  those  who  share  my  opinions.  Your 
voice  weighs  heavily  in  the  council  of  this  city.  You 
are  the  friend  of  Orange,  and  if  you  could  induce  him — " 

"  To  do  what,  noble  sir  ?" 

"  To  enter  into  an  alliance  with  us.  We  know  that 
those  in  Madrid  understand  how  to  estimate  his  impor- 
tance and  fear  him.  Let  us  stipulate,  as  the  first  condi- 
tion, a  full  pardon  for  him  and  his  faithful  followers. 
King  Philip,  I  know,  will  receive  him  into  favor  again — " 

^'  In  his  arms  to  strangle  him,"  replied  the  burgo- 
master resolutely.  *'  Have  you  forgotten  the  false 
promises  of  pardon  made  in  former  times,  the  fate  of 
Egmont  and  Horn,  the  noble  Montigney  and  other 
lords  ?      They  ventured  it  and  entered  the  tiger's  den. 


THE    burgomaster's    WIFE.  3I 

'What  we  buy  to-day  will  surely  be  taken  from  us  to- 
morrow, for  what  oath  would  be  sacred  to  Philip  ?  I 
am  no  statesman,  but  I  know  this — if  he  would  restore 
all  our  liberties,  he  will  never  grant  the  one  thing,  with- 
out which  Hfe  is  valueless." 

"  What  is  that,  Herr  Peter  ?" 

"  The  privilege  of  believing  according  to  the  dictates 
of  our  hearts.  You  mean  fairly,  noble  sir; — but  you 
trust  the  Spaniard,  we  do  not ;  if  we  did,  we  should  be 
deceived  children.  You  have  nothing  to  fear  for  your 
religion,  we  everything ;  you  believe  that  the  number  of 
troops  and  power  of  gold  will  turn  the  scales  in  our 
conflict,  we  comfort  ourselves  with  the  hope,  that  God 
will  give  victory  to  the  good  cause  of  a  brave  people, 
ready  to  suffer  a  thousand  deaths  for  liberty.  This  is 
my  opinion,  and  I  shall  defend  it  in  the  town-hall." 

"  No,  Meister  Peter,  no !  You  cannot,  ought  not." 

"  What  I  can  do  is  little,  what  I  ought  to  do  is  writ- 
ten within,  and  I  shall  act  accordingly." 

"  And  thus  obey  the  sorrowing  heart  rather  than  the 
prudent  head,  and  be  able  to  give  naught  save  evil 
counsel.  Consider,  man.  Orange's  last  army  was  de- 
,j;n)yed  on  Mook  Heath." 

''  True,  my  lord,  and  for  that  very  reason  we  will  not 
use  the  moments  for  words,  but  deeds." 

^'  I'll  take  the  hint  myself,  Herr  Van  der  Werflf,  for 
many  friends  of  the  king  still  dwell  in  Leyden,  who 
must  be  taught  not  to  follow  you  blindly  to  the 
shambles." 

At  these  words  Van  der  Werff  retreated  from  the 
nobleman,  clenched  his  moustache  firmly  in  his  right 
hand,  and  raising  his  deep  voice  to  a  louder  tone,  said 
coldly  and  imperiously  : 


32  THE    burgomaster's    WIFE. 

^^  Then,  as  guardian  of  the  safety  of  this  city,  I  com- 
mand you  to  quit  Leyden  instantly.  If  you  are  found 
within  these  walls  after  noon  to-morrow,  I  will  have  you 
taken  across  the  frontiers  by  the  city-guard." 

The  baron  withdrew  without  any  form  of  leave- 
taking. 

As  soon  as  the  door  had  closed  behind  him,  Van  der 
Werff,  threw  himself  into  his  arm-chair  and  covered  his 
face  with  his  hands.  When  he  again  sat  erect,  two  large 
tear-drops  sparkled  on  the  paper  which  had  lain  under 
his  fingers.  Smiling  bitterly,  he  wiped  them  from  the 
page  with  the  back  of  his  hand. 

"  Dead,  dead,"  he  murmured,  and  the  image  of  the 
gallant  youth,  the  clever  mediator,  the  favorite  of  Wil- 
liam of  Orange,  rose  before  his  mind — he  asked  him- 
self how  this  fresh  stroke  of  fate  would  affect  the  Prince, 
whom  he  revered  as  the  providence  of  the  country,  ad- 
mired and  loved  as  the  wisest,  most  unselfish  of  men. 

William's  affliction  grieved  him  as  sorely  as  if  it  had 
fallen  upon  himself,  and  the  blow  that  had  struck  the 
cause  of  freedom  was  a  heavy  one,  perhaps  never  to  be 
overcome. 

Yet  he  only  granted  himself  a  short  time  to  indul^^e 
in  grief,  for  the  point  in  question  now  was  to  summon 
all  the  nation's  strength  to  repair  what  was  lost,  avert 
by  vigorous  acts  the  serious  consequences  which  threat- 
ened to  follow  Louis's  defeat,  and  devise  fresh  means  to 
carry  on  the  war. 

He  paced  up  and  down  the  room  with  frowning 
brow,  inventing  measures  and  pondering  over  plans. 

His  wife  had  opened  the  door,  and  now  remained 
standing  on  the  threshold,  but  he  did  not  notice  her 
until  she  called  his  name  and  advanced  towards  him. 


THE    burgomaster's    WIFE.  ^^ 

In  her  hand  she  held  part  of  the  flowers  the  boy  had 
brought,  another  portion  adorned  her  bosom. 

"  Take  it,"  she  said,  offering  him  the  bouquet. 
"  Adrian,  dear  boy,  gathered  them,  and  you  surely 
know  what  they  mean." 

He  willingly  took  the  messengers  of  spring,  raised 
them  to  his  face,  drew  Maria  to  his  breast,  pressed  a 
long  kiss  upon  her  brow,  and  then  said  gloomily : 

"  So  this  is  the  celebration  of  the  first  anniversary  of 
our  wedding-day.  Poor  wife !  The  Clipper  was  not  so 
far  wrong;  perhaps  it  would  have  been  wiser  and  better 
for  me  not  to  bind  your  fate  to  mine." 

"  How  can  such  thoughts  enter  your  mind,  Peter ! " 
she  exclaimed  reproachfully. 

"  Louis  of  Nassau  has  fallen,"  he  murmured  in  a 
hollow  tone,  "his  army  is  scattered." 

"Oh — oh!"  cried  Maria,  clasping  her  hands  in 
horror,  but  he  continued : 

"It  was  our  last  body  of  troops.  The  coffers  are 
empty,  and  where  we  are  to  obtain  new  means,  and 
what  will  happen  now — this,  this — Leave  me,  Maria,  I 
beg  you.  If  we  don't  profit  by  the  time  now,  if  we 
don't  find  the  right  paths  now,  we  shall  not,  cannot 
pfosper." 

With  these  words  he  threw  the  bouquet  on  the  table, 
hastily  seized  a  paper,  looked  into  it,  and,  without 
glancing  at  her,  waved  his  right  hand. 

The  young  wife's  heart  had  been  full,  wide  open, 
when  she  entered  the  room.  She  had  expected  so  much 
that  was  beautiful  from  this  hour,  and  now  stood  alone 
in  the  apartment  he  still  shared  with  her.  Her  arms 
had  fallen  by  her  side;  helpless,  mortified,  wounded,  she 
gazed  at  him  in  silence. 


34  THE  burgomaster's  wife.  i 

•1 
i 

Maria  had  grown  up  amid  the  battle  for  freedom,  ] 
and  knew  how  to  estimate  the  grave  importance  of  the  ; 
tidings  her  husband  had  received.  During  his  wooing  he  ■ 
had  told  her  that,  by  his  side,  she  must  expect  a  Hfe  full  1 
of  anxiety  and  peril,  yet  she  had  joyously  gone  to  the  i 
altar  with  the  brave  champion  of  the  good  cause,  which  ] 
had  been  her  father's,  for  she  had  hoped  to  become  the  \ 
sharer  of  his  cares  and  struggles.  And  now  ?  What  \ 
was  she  permitted  to  be  to  him  ?  What  did  he  receive  i 
from  her  ?  What  had  he  consented  to  share  with  her,  ! 
who  could  not  feel  herself  a  feeble  woman,  on  this,  the  ; 
anniversary  of  their  wedding-day. 

There  she  stood,  her  open  heart  slowly  closing  and  i 
struggling  against  her  longing  to  cry  out  to  him,  and  say  i 
that  she  would  as  gladly  bear  his  cares  with  him  and  ■ 
share  every  danger,  as  happiness  and  honor.  j 

The  burgomaster,  having  now  found  what  he  sought,  ] 
seized  his  hat  and  again  looked  at  his  wife.  i 

How  pale  and  disappointed  she  was ! 

His  heart  ached ;  he  would  so  gladly  have  given  ex-  \ 
pression  in  words  to  the  great,  warm  love  he  felt  for  her,  \ 
offered  her  joyous  congratulations;  but  in  this  hour,  amid  \ 
his  grief,  with  such  anxieties  burdening  his  breast,  he  | 
could  not  do  it,  so  he  only  held  out  both  hands,  saying , 
tenderly :  \ 

"You  surely  know  what  you  are  to  me,  Maria,  if  you 
do  not,  I  will  tell  you  this  evening.      I  must  meet  the 
members  of  the  council  at  the  town-hall,  or  a  whole  day  \ 
will  be  lost,  and  at  this  time  we  must  be  avaricious  even '. 
of  the  moments.     Well,  Maria  ?"  i 

The  young  wife  was  gazing  at  the  floor.  She  would ; 
gladly  have  flown  to  his  breast,  but  oflended  pride  would  \ 
not  suffer  her  to  do  so,  and  some  mysterious  power  | 


THE    burgomaster's    WIFE.  35 

bound  her  hands  and  did  not  permit  her  to  lay  them  in 
his. 

"  Farewell,"  she  said  in  a  hollow  tone. 

"  Maria !"  he  exclaimed  reproachfully.  "  To-day  is 
no  well-chosen  time  for  pouting.  Come  and  be  my 
sensible  wife." 

She  did  not  move  instantly ;  but  he  heard  the  bell 
ring  for  the  fourth  hour,  the  time  when  the  session  of 
the  council  ended,  and  left  the  room  without  looking 
back  at  her. 

The  Httle  bouquet  still  lay  on  the  writing-table;  the 
young  wife  saw  it,  and  with  difficulty  restrained  her 
tears. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

Countless  citizens  had  flocked  to  the  stately  town- 
hall.  News  of  Louis  of  Nassau's  defeat  had  spread 
quickly  through  all  the  eighteen  wards  of  the  city,  and 
each  wanted  to  learn  farther  particulars,  express  his  grief 
and  fears  to  those  who  held  the  same  views,  and  hear 
what  measures  the  council  intended  to  adopt  for  the 
immediate  future. 

Two  messengers  had  only  too  thoroughly  confirmed 
Baron  Matanesse  Van  Wibisma's  communication.  Louis 
was  dead,  his  brother  Henry  missing,  and  his  army 
completely  destroyed. 

Jan  Van  Hout,  who  had  taught  the  boys  that  morn- 
ing, now  came  to  a  window,  informed  the  citizens  what 
a  severe  blow  the  liberty  of  the  country  had  received, 
and  in  vigorous  words  exhorted  them  to  support  the 
good  cause  with  body  and  soul. 

3* 


S^  THE    burgomaster's    WIFE. 

Loud  cheers  followed  this  speech.  Gay  caps  and  ; 
plumed  hats  were  tossed  in  the  air,  canes  and  swords  • 
were  waved,  and  the  women  and  children,  who  had  j 
crowded  among  the  men,  fluttered  their  handkerchiefs,  \ 
and  with  their  shriller  voices  drowned  the  shouts  of  the  \ 
citizens.  \ 

The  members  of  the  valiant  city-guard  assembled,  to  j 
charge  their  captain  to  give  the  council  the  assurance,  \ 
that  the  "  Schutterij "  was  ready  to  support  William  of  i 
Orange  to  the  last  penny  and  drop  of  their  blood,  and  j 
would  rather  die  for  the  cause  of  Holland,  than  live  \ 
under  Spanish  tyranny.  Among  them  was  seen  many  a  ; 
grave,  deeply-troubled  face,  for  these  men,  who  filled  its  i 
ranks  by  their  own  choice,  all  loved  William  of  Orange:  \ 
his  sorrow  hurt  them  —  and  their  country's  distress  • 
pierced  their  hearts.  As  soon  as  the  four  burgomasters,  ! 
the  eight  magistrates  of  the  city,  and  the  members  of  ; 
the  common  council  appeared  at  the  windows,  hundreds  | 
of  voices  joined  in  the  Geusenlied,*  which  had  long  i 
before  been  struck  up  by  individuals,  and  when  at  sun-  I 
set  the  volatile  populace  scattered  and,  still  singing,  ; 
turned,  either  singly  or  by  twos  or  threes,  towards  the  \ 
taverns,  to  strengthen  their  confidence  in  better  days  \ 
and  dispel  many  a  well-justified  anxiety  by  drink,  the  i 
market-place  of  Leyden  and  its  adjoining  streets  pre-  | 
sented  no  different  aspect,  than  if  a  message  of  victory  ] 
had  been  read  from  the  town-hall.  : 

The  cheers  and  Beggars'  Song  had  sounded  very  pow-  : 
erful  —  but  so  many  hundreds  of  Dutch  throats  would  \ 
doubtless  have  been  capable  of  shaking  the  air  with  far  \ 
mightier  tones.  ] 

*  Beggars'  Song  or  Hymn.  Beggar  was  the  name  given  to  the  .' 
patriots  by  those  who  sympathized  with  Spain.  | 


THE    burgomaster's    WIFE.  37 

This  very  remark  had  ])een  made  by  the  three  well- 
dressed  citizens,  who  were  walking  through  the  wide 
street,  past  the  blue  stone,  and  the  eldest  said  to  his 
companions : 

*'  They  boast  and  shout  and  seem  large  to  them- 
selves now,  but  we  shall  see  that  things  will  soon  be 
very  different." 

*'May  God  avert  the  worst!"  replied  the  other,  "but 
the  Spaniards  will  surely  advance  again,  and  I  know 
many  in  my  ward  who  won't  vote  for  resistance  this 
time." 

"They  are  right,  a  thousand  times  right.  Requesens 
is  not  Alva,  and  if  we  voluntarily  seek  the  king's 
pardon  —  " 

"  There  would  be  no  blood  shed  and  everything 
would  take  the  best  course." 

"I  have  more  love  for  Holland  than  for  Spain," 
said  the  third.  "  But,  after  Mook-Heath,  resistance  is 
a  thing  of  the  past.  Orange  may  be  an  excellent  prince, 
but  the  shirt  is  closer  than  the  coat." 

"  And  in  fact  we  risk  our  lives  and  fortunes  merely 
for  him." 

"  My  wife  said  so  yesterday." 

"  He'll  be  the  last  man  to  help  trade.  Believe  me, 
many  think  as  we  do,  if  it  were  not  so,  the  Beggars'  Song 
would  have  sounded  louder." 

"  There  will  always  be  five  fools  to  three  wise  men," 
said  the  older  citizen.  "  I  took  good  care  not  to  split 
my  mouth." 

"  And  after  all,  what  great  thing  is  there  behind  this 
outcry  for  freedom  ?  Alva  burnt  the  Bible-readers,  De 
la  Marck  hangs  the  priests.     My  wife  likes  to   go   to 


38  THE    burgomaster's     WIFE. 

Mass,  but  always  does  so  secretly,  as  if  she  were  com- 
mitting a  crime.'* 

"  We,  too,  cling  to  the  good  old  faith." 

"  Never  mind  faith,"  said  the  third.  *'  We  are  Cal- 
vinists,  but  I  take  no  pleasure  in  throwing  my  pennies 
into  Orange's  maw,  nor  can  it  gratify  me  to  again  tear 
up  the  poles  before  the  Cow-gate,  ere  the  wind  dries  the 
yarn." 

"  Only  let  us  hold  together,"  advised  the  older  man. 
*^  People  don't  express  their  real  opinions,  and  any  poor 
ragged  devil  might  play  the  hero.  But  I  tell  you  there 
will  be  sensible  men  enough  in  every  ward,  every  guild, 
nay,  even  in  the  council,  and  among  the  burgomasters." 

"  Hush,"  whispered  the  second  citizen,  *'  there  comes 
Van  der  Werff  with  the  city  clerk  and  young  Van  der 
Does;  they  are  the  worst  of  all." 

The  three  persons  named  came  down  the  broad 
street,  talking  eagerly  together,  but  in  low  tones. 

*'  My  uncle  is  right,  Meister  Peter,"  said  Jan  A^an  der 
Does,  the  same  tall  young  noble,  who,  on  the  morning 
of  that  day,  had  sent  Nicolas  Van  Wibisma  home  with 
a  kindly  warning.  ''  It's  no  use,  you  must  seek  the  Prince 
and  consult  with  him." 

*'  I  suppose  I  must,"  replied  the  burgomaster.  "  I'll 
go  to-morrow  morning." 

"  Not  to-morrow,"  replied  Van  Hout.  "The  Prince 
rides  fast,  and  if  you  don't  find  him  in  Delft — " 

"  Do  you  go  first,"  urged  the  burgomaster,  "  you 
have  the  record  of  our  session." 

*'  I  cannot ;  but  to-day  you,  the  Prince's  friend,  for 
the  first  time  lack  good-will." 

*'You  are  right,  Jan,"  exclaimed  the  burgomaster, 
'*  and  you  shall  know  what  holds  me  back." 


THE    burgomaster's    WIFE.  39 

"  If  it  is  anything  a  friend  can  do  for  you,  here  he 
stands,"  said  von  Nordwyk. 

Van  der  Werif  grasped  the  hand  the  young  noble- 
man extended,  and  answered,  smiHng :  "  No,  my  lord, 
no.  You  know  my  young  wife.  To-day  we  should 
have  celebrated  the  first  anniversary  of  our  marriage, 
and  amid  all  these  anxieties  I  disgracefully  forgot 
it." 

*'  Hard,  hard,"  said  Van  Hout,  softly.  Then  he 
drew  himself  up  to  his  full  height,  and  added  resolutely: 
"And  yet,  were  I  in  your  place,  I  would  go,  in  spite 
of  her." 

"  Would  you  go  to-day  /" 

"To-day,  for  to-morrow  it  maybe  too  late.  Who 
knows  how  soon  egress  from  the  city  may  be  stopped 
and,  before  again  venturing  the  utmost,  we  must  know 
the  Prince's  opinion.  You  possess  more  of  his  confi- 
dence than  any  of  us." 

"And  God  knows  how  gladly  I  would  bring  him  a 
cheering  word  in  these  sorrowful  hours;  but  it  must 
not  be  to-day.  The  messenger  has  ridden  off  on  my 
bay." 

"Then  take  my  chestnut,  he  is  faster  too,"  said 
Janus  Dousa  and  Van  der  Werfif  answered  hastily  : 

"  Thanks,  my  lord.  I'll  send  for  him  early  to-mor- 
row morning." 

The  blood  mounted  to  Van  Hout's.head  and,  thrust- 
ing his  hand  angrily  between  his  girdle  and  doublet,  he 
exclaimed:  "Send  me  the  chestnut,  if  the  burgomaster 
will  give  me  leave  of  absence." 

"  No,  send  him  to  me,"  replied  Peter  calmly.  "  What 
must  be,  must  be;  I'll  go  to-day." 

Van  Hout's  manly  features  quickly  smoothed  and, 


40  THE    BURGOMASTER  S   WIFE. 

clasping  the  burgomaster's  right  hand  in  both  his,  he 
said  joyously : 

*' Thanks,  Herr  Peter.  And  no  offence;  you  know 
my  hot  temper.  If  the  time  seems  long  to  your  young 
wife,  send  her  to  mine." 

"And  mine,"  added  Dousa.  "It's  a  strange  thing 
about  those  two  little  words  ^  wish' and  ^  ought.'  The 
freer  and  better  a  man  becomes,  the  more  surely  the 
first  becomes  the  slave  of  the  second. 

"  And  yet,  Herr  Peter,  I'll  wager  that  your  wife  will 
confound  the  two  words  to-day,  and  think  you  have 
sorely  transgressed  against  the  *  ought.'  These  are  bad 
times  for  the  *  wish.' " 

Van  der  Werff  nodded  assent,  then  briefly  and 
firmly  explained  to  his  friends  what  he  intended  to  dis- 
close to  the  Prince. 

The  three  men  separated  before  the  burgomaster's 
house. 

"  Tell  the  Prince,"  said  Van  Hout,  on  parting,  "that 
we  are  prepared  for  the  worst,  will  endure  and  dare 
it." 

At  these  words  Janus  Dousa  measured  both  his 
companions  with  his  eyes,  his  lips  quivered  as  they  al- 
ways did  when  any  strong  emotion  filled  his  heart,  and 
while  his  shrewd  face  beamed  with  joy  and  confidence, 
he  exclaimed  :  "  We  three  will  hold  out,  we  three  will 
stand  firm,  the  tyrant  may  break  our  necks,  but  he  shall 
not  bend  them.  Life,  fortune,  all  that  is  dear  and 
precious  and  useful  to  man,  we  will  resign  for  the  high- 
est of  blessings." 

'^Ay,"  said  Van  der  Werff,  loudly  and  earnestly, 
while  Van  Hout  impetuously  repeated  :  "  Yes,  yes,  thrice 
yes." 


THE    burgomaster's    WIFE.  4I 

The  three  men,  so  united  in  feeling,  grasped  each 
other's  hands  firmly  for  a  moment.  A  silent  vow  bound 
them  in  this  hour,  and  when  Herr  von  Nordwyk  and 
Van  Hout  turned  in  opposite  directions,  the  citizens  who  • 
met  them  thought  their  tall  figures  had  grown  taller  still 
within  the  last  few  hours. 

The  burgomaster  went  to  his  wife's  room  without 
delay,  but  did  not  find  her  there. 

She  had  gone  out  of  the  gate  with  his  sister. 

The  maid-servant  carried  a  light  into  his  chamber; 
he  followed  her,  examined  the  huge  locks  of  his  pistols, 
buckled  on  his  old  sword,  put  what  he  needed  into  his 
saddle-bags,  then,  with  his  tall  figure  drawn  up  to  its 
full  height,  paced  up  and  down  the  room,  entirely  ab- 
sorbed in  his  task. 

Herr  von  Nordwyk's  chestnut  horse  was  stamping 
on  the  pavement  before  the  door,  and  Hesperus  was  ris- 
ing above  the  roofs. 

The  door  of  the  house  now  opened. 

He  went  into  the  entry  and  found,  not  his  wife,  but 
Adrian,  who  had  just  returned  home,  told  the  boy  to  give 
his  most  loving  remembrances  to  his  mother,  and  say 
that  he  was  obliged  to  seek  the  Prince  on  important 
business. 

Old  Trautchen  had  already  washed  and  undressed 
little  Elizabeth,  and  now  brought  him  the  child  wrapped 
in  a  coverlet.  He  kissed  the  dear  little  face,  which 
smiled  at  him  out  of  its  queer  disguise,  pressed  his  lips 
to  Adrian's  forehead,  again  told  him  to  give  his  love  to 
his  mother,  and  then  rode  down  Marendorpstrasse. 

Two  women  coming  from  the  Rheinsburger  gate, 
met  him  just  as  he  reached  St.  Stephen's  cloister.  He 
did  not  notice  them,  but  the  younger  one  pushed  the 


42  THE    burgomaster's    WIFE. 

kerchief  back  from  her  head,  hastily  grasped  her  com- 
panion's wrist,  and  exclaimed  in  a  low  tone : 

"  That  was  Peter ! " 

Barbara  raised  her  head  higher. 

"  It's  lucky  I'm  not  timid.  Let  go  of  my  arm.  Do 
you  mean  the  horseman  trotting  past  St.  Ursula  alley?'* 

"  Yes,  it  is  Peter." 

"  Nonsense,  child !  The  bay  has  shorter  legs  than 
that  tall  camel;  and  Peter  never  rides  out  at  this 
hour." 

"  But  it  was  he." 

"  God  forbid  !  At  night  a  linden  looks  like  a  beech- 
tree.  It  would  be  a  pretty  piece  of  business,  if  he 
didn't  come  home  to-day." 

The  last  words  had  escaped  Barbara's  lips  against 
her  will;  for  until  then  she  had  prudently  feigned 
not  to  suspect  that  everything  between  Maria  and  her 
husband  was  not  exactly  as  it  ought  to  be,  though 
she  plainly  perceived  what  was  passing  in  the  mind  of 
her  young  sister-in-law. 

She  was  a  shrewd  woman,  with  much  experience  of 
the  world,  who  certainly  did  not  undervalue  her  brother 
and  his  importance  to  the  cause  of  their  native  land ; 
nay,  she  went  so  far  as  to  believe  that,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  the  Prince  of  Orange,  no  man  on  earth  would  be 
more  skilful  than  Peter  in  guiding  the  cause  of  freedom 
to  a  successful  end ;  but  she  felt  that  her  brother  was 
not  treating  Maria  justly,  and  being  a  fair-minded 
woman,  silently  took  sides  against  the  husband  who 
neglected  his  wife. 

Both  walked  side  by  side  for  a  time  in  silence. 

At  last  the  widow  paused,  saying : 

"  Perhaps  the  Prince  has  sent  a  messenger  for  Peter. 


THE    BURGOMASTER'S    WIFE.  45 

In  such  times,  after  such  blows,  everything  is  possible. 
You  might  have  seen  correctly." 

"  It  was  surely  he,"  replied  Maria  positively. 

"  Poor  fellow !"  said  the  other.  "  It  must  be  a  sad 
ride  for  him !  Much  honor,  much  hardship !  You've 
no  reason  to  despond,  for  your  husband  will  return  to- 
morrow or  the  day  after ;  while  I — look  at  me,  Maria  f 
I  go  through  life  stiff  and  straight,  do  my  duty  cheer- 
fully;  my  cheeks  are  rosy,  my  food  has  a  relish,  yet  I've 
been  obliged  to  resign  what  was  dearest  to  me.  I  have 
endured  my  widowhood  ten  years ;  my  daughter  Gret- 
chen  has  married,  and  I  sent  Cornelius  myself  to  the 
Beggars  of  the  Sea.  Any  hour  may  rob  me  of  him^ 
for  his  life  is  one  of  constant  peril.  What  has  a  widow 
except  her  only  son  ?  And  I  gave  him  up  for  our 
country's  cause !  That  is  harder  than  to  see  a  husband 
ride  away  for  a  few  hours  on  the  anniversary  of  his  wed- 
ding-day. He  certainly  doesn't  do  it  for  his  own 
pleasure !" 

"  Here  we  are  at  home,"  said  Maria,  raising  the 
knocker. 

Trautchen  opened  the  door  and,  even  before  cross- 
ing the  threshold,  Barbara  exclaimed : 

"  Is  your  master  at  home  ?" 

The  reply  was  in  the  negative,  as  she  too  now 
expected. 

Adrian  gave  his  message ;  Trautchen  brought  up  the 
supper,  but  the  conversation  would  not  extend  beyond 
"yes"  and  '^  no." 

After  Maria  had  hastily  asked  the  blessing,  she  rose^ 
and  turning  to  Barbara,  said : 

"  My  head  aches,  I  should  like  to  go  to  bed." 

"  Then  go  to  rest,"  repHed  the  widow.       ^'  I'll  sleep 


44  THE    BURGOMASTER  S    WIFE. 

in  the  next  room  and  leave  the  door  open.  In  darkness 
and  silence — whims  come." 

Maria  kissed  her  sister-in-law  with  sincere  affection, 
and  lay  down  in  bed ;  but  she  found  no  sleep,  and  tossed 
restlessly  to  and  fro  until  near  midnight. 

Hearing  Barbara  cough  in  the  next  room,  she  sat 
up  and  asked : 

"  vSister-in-law,  are  you  asleep  ?" 

"  No,  child.     Do  you  feel  ill  ?" 

"  Not  exactly;  but  I'm  so  anxious — horrible  thoughts 
torment  me." 

Barbara  instantly  lighted  a  candle  at  the  night-lamp, 
entered  the  chamber  with  it,  and  sat  down  on  the  edge 
of  the  bed. 

Her  heart  ached  as  she  gazed  at  the  pretty  young 
creature  lying  alone,  full  of  sorrow,  in  the  wide  bed, 
unable  to  sleep  from  bitter  grief. 

Maria  had  never  seemed  to  her  so  beautiful;  resting 
in  her  white  night-robes  on  the  snowy  pillow,  she  looked 
like  a  sorrowing  angel. 

Barbara  could  not  refrain  from  smoothing  the  hair 
back  from  the  narrow  forehead  and  kissing  the  flushed 
cheeks. 

Maria  gazed  gratefully  into  her  small,  light-blue  eyes 
and  said  beseechingly : 

'^  I  should  like  to  ask  you  something." 

"Well?" 

"  But  you  must  honestly  tell  me  the  truth." 

"  That  is  asking  a  great  deal ! " 

"  I  know  you  are  sincere,  but  it  is  —  " 

"  Speak  freely." 

"  Was  Peter  happy  with  his  first  wife  ?" 

^'  Yes,  child,  yes." 


THE    BURGOMASTER  S    WIFE.  45 

"And  do  you  know  this  not  only  from  him,  but  also 
from  his  dead  wife,  Eva  ?  " 

"Yes,  sister-in-law,  yes." 

"And  you  can't  be  mistaken  ?" 

"  Not  in  this  case  certainly !  But  what  puts  such 
thoughts  into  your  head  ?  The  Bible  says :  *  Let  the 
dead  bury  their  dead.'  Now  turn  over  and  try  to 
sleep." 

Barbara  went  back  to  her  room,  but  hours  elapsed 
ere  Maria  found  the  slumber  she  sought. 


CHAPTER  V. 

The  next  morning  two  horsemen,  dressed  in  neat 
livery,  were  waiting  before  the  door  of  a  handsome 
house  in  Nobelstrasse,  near  the  market-place.  A  third 
was  leading  two  sturdy  roan  steeds  up  and  down,  and  a 
stable-boy  held  by  the  bridle  a  gaily-bedizened,  long- 
maned  pony.  This  was  intended  for  the  young  negro 
lad,  who  stood  in  the  door-way  of  the  house  and  kept 
off  the  street-boys,  who  ventured  to  approach,  by  rolUng 
his  eyes  and  gnashing  his  white  teeth  at  them. 

"  Where  can  they  be  ?"  said  one  of  the  mounted 
men      "  The  rain  won't  keep  off  long  to-day." 

"  Certainly  not,"  rephed  the  other.  "  The  sky  is  as 
grey  as  my  old  felt-hat,  and,  by  the  time  we  reach  the 
forest,  it  will  be  pouring." 

"  It's  misting  already." 

"  Such  cold,  damp  weather  is  particularly  disagree- 
able to  me.'' 

*'  It  was  pleasant  yesterday." 


46  THE    burgomaster's    WIFE. 

"  Button  the  flaps  tighter  over  the  pistol-holsteis ! 
The  portmanteau  behind  the  young  master's  saddle  isn't 
exacdy  even.  There !  Did  the  cook  fill  the  flask  for 
you  ?" 

"  With  brown  Spanish  wine.     There  it  is." 

*'  Then  let  it  pour.  When  a  fellow  is  wet  inside,  he 
can  bear  a  great  deal  of  moisture  without.'* 

"  Lead  the  horses  up  to  the  door ;  I  hear  the  gen- 
tlemen." 

The  man  was  not  mistaken;  for  before  his  com- 
panion had  succeeded  in  stopping  the  larger  roan,  the 
voices  of  his  master,  Herr  Matanesse  Van  Wibisma,  and 
his  son,  Nicolas,  were  heard  in  the  wide  entry. 

Both  were  exchanging  affectionate  farewells  with  a 
young  girl,  whose  voice  sounded  deeper  than  the  half- 
grown  boy's. 

As  the  older  gentleman  thrust  his  hand  through  the 
roan's  mane  and  was  already  Hfting  his  foot  to  put  it  in 
the  stirrup,  the  young  girl,  who  had  remained  in  the 
entry,  came  out  into  the  street,  laid  her  hand  on  Wibis- 
ma's  arm,  and  said : 

"  One  word  more,  uncle,  but  to  you  alone." 

The  baron  still  held  his  horse's  mane  in  his  hand, 
exclaiming  with  a  cordial  smile: 

"  If  only  it  isn't  too  heavy  for  the  roan.  A  secret 
from  beautiful  Hps  has  its  weight." 

While  speaking,  he  bent  his  ear  towards  his  niece, 
but  she  did  not  seem  to  have  intended  to  whisper,  for 
she  approached  no  nearer  and  merely  lowered  her  tone, 
saying  in  the  Italian  language : 

"  Please  tell  my  father,  that  I  won't  stay  here." 

"Why,  Henrica!"  • 

"  Tell  him  I  won't  do  so  under  any  circumstances."    ; 


THE    burgomaster's    WIFE.  47 

"  Your  aunt  won't  let  you  go.*' 

"  In  short,  I  won't  stay." 

"I'll  deliver  the  message,  but  in  somewhat  milder 
terms,  if  agreeable  to  you." 

"  As  you  choose.  Tell  him,  too,  that  I  beg  him  to 
send  for  me.  If  he  doesn't  wish  to  enter  this  heretic's 
nest  himself,  for  which  I  don't  blame  him  in  the  least, 
he  need  only  send  horses  or  the  carriage  for  me." 

"  And  your  reasons  ?" 

"  I  won't  weight  your  baggage  still  more  heavily. 
Go,  or  the  saddle  will  be  wet  before  you  ride  off." 

"  Then  I'm  to  tell  Hoogstraten  to  expect  a  letter." 

"  No.  Such  things  can't  be  written.  Besides,  it 
won't  be  necessary.  Tell  my  father  I  won't  stay  with 
aunt,  and  want  to  go  home.  Good-bye,  Nico.  Your 
riding-boots  and  green  cloth  doublet  are  much  more  be- 
coming than  those  silk  fal-lals." 

The  young  lady  kissed  her  hand  to  the  youth,  who 
had  already  swung  himself  into  the  saddle,  and  hurried 
back  to  the  house.  Her  uncle  shrugged  his  shoulders, 
mounted  the  roan,  wrapped  the  dark  cloak  closer  around 
him,  beckoned  Nicolas  to  his  side,  and  rode  on  with 
him  in  advance  of  the  servants. 

No  word  was  exchanged  between  them,  so  long  as 
their  way  led  through  the  city,  but  outside  the  gate, 
Wibisma  said : 

"  Henrica  finds  the  time  long  in  Leyden ;  she  would 
like  to  go  back  to  her  father." 

"  It  can't  be  very  pleasant  to  stay  with  aunt,"  re- 
plied the  youth. 

"  She  is  old  and  sick,  and  her  life  has  been  a  joyless 
one." 

"  Yet  she  was  beautiful    Few  traces  of  it  are  visible, 


48  THE    burgomaster's    WIFE.  \ 

but  her  eyes  are  still  like  those  in  the  portrait,  and  be-j 

sides  she  is  so  rich."  ] 

"  That  doesn't  give  happiness." 

'^  But  why  has  she  remained  unmarried  ?" 

The  baron  shrugged  his  shoulders,  and  replied :         \ 

'^  It  certainly  didn't  suit  the  men."  ] 

*'  Then  why  didn't  she  go  into  a  convent  ?"  ! 

"  Who  knows  ?      Women's  hearts  are  harder  to  un-i 

derstand  than  your  Greek  books.  You'll  learn  that  later.  ^ 

What  were  you  saying  to  your  aunt  as  I  came  up?"        \ 

"Why,  just  see,"  rephed  the  boy,  putting  the  bridle! 

in  his  mouth,  and  drawing  the  glove  from  his  left  hand,) 

**  she  slipped  this  ring  on  my  finger."  i 

"  A  splendid  emerald  !      She  doesn't  usually  like  to| 

part  with  such  things."  \ 

"  She  first  offered  me  another,  saying  she  would  givej 

it  to  me  to  make  amends  for  the  thumps  I  received  yes-j 

terday    as   a    faithful    follower  of   the    king.       Isn't    it] 

comical  ?"  , 

"  More  than  that,  I  should  think."  j 

"  It  was  contrary  to  my  nature  to  accept  gifts  for^ 

my  bruises,  and  I  hastily  drew  my  hand  back,  saying  the| 

burgher  lads  had  taken  some  home  from  me,  and  T\ 

wouldn't  have  the  ring  as  a  reward  fDr  //^^/."  ] 

"  Right,  Nico,  right."  \ 

"  So  she  said  too,  put  the  httle  ring  back  in  the  box, ; 

found  this  one,  and  here  it  is."  i 

"  A  valuable  gem  !"  murmured  the  baron,  thinking  :\ 

'^This  gift  is  a  good  omen.      The  Hoogstratens  and  hej 

are  her  nearest  heirsj  and  if  the  silly  girl  doesn't  stay  \ 

with  her,  it  might  happen — "  ] 

But  he  found  no  time  to   finish  these  reflections,i 

Nicolas  interrupted  them  by  saying :  ^ 


THE    burgomaster's    WIFE.  49 

*^  It's  beginning  to  rain  already.  Don't  the  fogs  on 
the  meadows  look  like  clouds  fallen  from  the  skies  ?  I 
am  cold." 

"  Draw  your  cloak  closer." 

"  How  it  rains  and  hails  !  One  would  think  it  was 
winter.  The  water  in  the  canals  looks  black,  and  yon- 
der— see — what  is  that  ?" 

A  tavern  stood  beside  the  road,  and  just  in  front  of 
it  a  single  lofty  elm  towered  towards  the  sky.  Its 
trunk,  bare  as  a  mast,  had  grown  straight  up  without 
separating  into  branches  until  it  attained  the  height  of  a 
house.  Spring  had  as  yet  lured  no  leaves  from  the 
boughs,  but  there  were  many  objects  to  be  seen  in  the 
bare  top  of  the  tree.  A  small  flag,  bearing  the  colors  of 
the  House  of  Orange,  was  fastened  to  one  branch,  from 
another  hung  a  large  doll,  which  at  a  distance  strongly 
resembled  a  man  dressed  in  black,  an  old  hat  dangled 
from  a  third,  and  a  fourth  supported  a  piece  of  white 
pasteboard,  on  which  might  be  read  in  large  black  let- 
ters, which  the  rain  was  already  beginning  to  efface : 

"  Good  luck  to  Orange,  to  the  Spaniard  death. 
So  Peter  Quatgelat  welcomes  his  guests." 

This  tree,  with  its  motley  adornments,  offered  a 
by  no  means  pleasant  spectacle,  seen  in  the  grey,  cold, 
misty  atmosphere  of  the  rainy  April  morning. 

Ravens  had  alighted  beside  the  doll  swaying  to  and 
fro  in  the  wind,  probably  mistaking  it  for  a  man.  They 
must  have  been  by  no  means  teachable  birds,  for  during 
the  years  the  Spaniards  had  ruled  in  Holland,  the  places 
of  execution  were  never  empty.  They  were  screeching 
as  if  in  anger,  but  still  remained  perched  on  the  tree, 
which  tliey  probably  mistook  for  a  gibbet.  The  rest  of 
4 


50  THE    BURGOMASTERS    WIFE. 

the  comical  ornaments  and  the  thought  of  the  nimble 
adventurer,  who  must  have  cHmbed  up  to  fasten  them, 
formed  a  glaring  and  offensive  contrast  to  the  caricature 
of  the  gallows. 

Yet  Nicolas  laughed  loudly,  as  he  perceived  the 
queer  objects  in  the  top  of  the  elm,  and  pointing  up- 
ward, said : 

"  Wh^t  kind  of  fruits  are  hanging  there  ?  " 

But  the  next  instant  a  chill  ran  down  his  back,  for  a 
raven  perched  on  the  black  doll  and  pecked  so  fiercely 
at  it  with  its  hard  beak,  that  bird  and  image  swayed  to 
and  fro  like  a  pendulum. 

"  What  does  this  nonsense  mean  ?  "  asked  the  baron, 
turning  to  the  servant,  a  bold-looking  fellow,  who  rode 
behind  him. 

*'  It's  something  like  a  tavern-sign,"  replied  the  latter. 
"  Yesterday,  Avhen  the  sun  was  shining,  it  looked  funny 
enough — but  to-day — b-r-r-r — it's  horrible." 

The  nobleman's  eyes  were  not  keen  enough  to  read 
the  inscription  on  the  placard.  When  Nicolas  read  it 
aloud  to  him,  he  muttered  an  oath,  then  turned  again  to 
the  servant,  saying : 

^'  And  does  this  nonsense  bring  guests  to  the  rascally 
host's  tavern  ?" 

*'  Yes,  my  lord,  and  'pon  my  soul,  it  looked  very 
comical  yesterday,  when  the  ravens  were  not  to  be  seen; 
a  fellow  couldn't  look  at  it  without  .laughing.  Half 
Leyden  was  there,  and  we  went  with  the  crowd.  There 
was  such  an  uproar  on  the  grass-plot  yonder.  Dudel- 
dum — Hiibiitt,  Hubiitt — Dudeldum — fiddles  squeaking 
and  bag-pipes  droning  as  if  they  never  would  stop. 
The  crazy  throng  shouted  amidst  the  din ;  the  noise 
still  rings  m  my  ears.     There  was  no  end  to  the  games 


THE    BURGOMASTERS    WIFE.  5 1 

and  dancing.  The  lads  tossed  their  brown,  blue  and 
red-stockinged  legs  in  the  air,  just  as  the  fiddle  played — 
the  coat-tails  flew  and,  holding  a  girl  clasped  in  the 
right  arm  and  a  mug  of  beer  high  over  their  heads  till 
the  foam  spattered,  the  throng  of  men  whirled  round 
and  round.  There  was  as  much  screaming  and  rejoic- 
ing as  if  every  butter-cup  in  the  grass  had  been  changed 
into  a  gold  florin.  But  to-day — holy  Fldrian-r-this  is  a 
rain !" 

"  It  will  do  the  things  up  there  good,"  exclaimed  the 
baron.  "  The  tinder  grows  damp  in  such  a  torrent,  or 
I'd  take  out  my  pistols  and  shoot  the  shabby  liberty  hat 
and  motley  tatters  off  the  tree." 

"That  was  the  dancing  ground,"  said  the  man, 
pointing  to  a  patch  of  trampled  grass. 

"  The  people  are  possessed,  perfectly  possessed," 
cried  the  baron,  "dancing  and  rejoicing  to-day,  and  to- 
morrow the  wind  will  blow  the  felt-hat  and  flag  from 
the  tree,  and  instead  of  the  black  puppet  they  them- 
selves ./ill  come  to  the  gallows.  Steady  roaa,  steady ! 
The  hail  frightens  the  beasts.  Unbuckle  the  portman- 
teau, Gerrit,  and  give  your  young  master  a  blanket." 

"  Yes,  my  lord.  But  wouldn't  it  be  better  for  you 
to  go  in  here  until  the  shower  is  over  ?  Holy  Florian  ! 
Just  see  that  piece  of  ice  in  your  horse's  mane  !  It's  as 
large  as  a  pigeon's  tgg.  Two  horses  are  already  stand- 
ing under  the  shed,  and  Quatgelat's  beer  isn't  bad." 

The  baron  glanced  inquiringly  at  his  son. 

"Let  us  go  in,"  replied  Nicolas;  "we  shall  get  to  the 
Hague  early  enough.  See  how  poor  Balthasar  is  shiver- 
ing! Henrica  says  he's  a  white  boy  painted;  but  if  she 
could  see  how  well  he  keeps  his  color  in  this  weather, 
she  would  take  it  back." 

4* 


52  THE    burgomaster's    WIFE. 

Herr  Van  Wibisma  turned  his  dripping,  smoking 
steed,  frightened  by  the  hail-stones,  towards  the  house, 
and  in  a  few  minutes  crossed  the  threshold  of  the  inn 
with  his  son. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

A  CURRENT  of  warm  air,  redolent  of  beer  and  food, 
met  the  travellers  as  they  entered  the  large,  low  room, 
dimly  lighted  by  the  tiny  windows,  scarcely  more  than 
loop-holes,  pierced  in  two  sides.  The  tap-room  itself 
looked  like  the  cabin  of  a  ship.  Ceiling  and  floor,  chairs 
and  tables,  were  made  of  the  same  dark-brown  wood 
that  covered  the  walls,  along  which  beds  were  ranged 
like  berths. 

The  host,  with  many  bows,  came  forward  to  receive 
the  aristocratic  guests,  and  led  them  to  the  fire-place, 
where  huge  pieces  of  peat  were  glimmering.  The  heat 
they  sent  forth  answered  several  purposes  at  the  same 
time.  It  warmed  the  air,  lighted  a  portion  of  the  room, 
which  was  very  dark  in  rainy  weather,  and  served  to  cook 
three  fowl  that,  suspended  from  a  thin  iron  bar  over  the 
fire,  were  already  beginning  to  brown. 

As  the  new  guests  approached  the  hearth,  an  old 
woman,  who  had  been  turning  the  spit,  pushed  a  white 
cat  from  her  lap  and  rose. 

The  landlord  tossed  on  a  bench  several  garments 
spread  over  the  backs  of  two  chairs  to  dry,  and  hung 
in  their  place  the  dripping  cloaks  of  the  baron  and  his 
son. 

While  the  elder  Wibisma   was  ordering  something 


THE    BURGOMASTERS    WIFE.  53 

hot  to  drink  for  himself  and  servants,  Nicolas  led  the 
black  page  to  the  fire. 

The  shivering  boy  crouched  on  the  floor  beside  the 
ashes,  and  stretched  now  his  soaked  feet,  shod  in  red 
morocco,  and  now  his  stiffened  fingers  to  the  blaze. 

The  father  and  son  took  their  seats  at  a  table,  over 
which  the  maid-servant  had  spread  a  cloth.  The  baron 
was  inclined  to  enter  into  conversation  about  the  dec- 
orated tree  with  the  landlord,  an  over-civil,  pock-marked 
dwarf,  whose  clothes  were  precisely  the  same  shade  of 
brown  as  the  wood  in  his  tap-room;  but  refrained  from 
doing  so  because  two  citizens  of  Leyden,  one  of  whom 
was  well  known  to  him,  sat  at  a  short  distance  from  his 
table,  and  he  did  not  wish  to  be  drawn  info  a  quarrel 
in  a  place  like  this. 

After  Nicolas  had  also  glanced  around  the  tap-room, 
he  touched  his  father,  saying  in  a  low  tone : 

"  Did  you  notice  the  men  yonder  ?  The  younger 
one — he's  lifting  the  cover  of  the  tankard  now — is  the 
organist  who  released  me  from  the  boys  and  gave  me 
his  cloak  yesterday." 

"  The  one  yonder  ?"  asked  the  nobleman.  "  A  hand-, 
some  young  fellow.  He  might  be  taken  for  an  artist  or 
something  of  that  kind.  Here,  landlord,  who  is  the 
gentleman  with  brown  hair  and  large  eyes,  talking  to 
Allertssohn,  the  fencing-master  ?" 

"  It's  Herr  Wilhelm,  younger  son  of  old  Herr  Cor- 
nelius, Receiver  General,  a  player  or  musician,  as  they 
call  them." 

"  Eh,  eh,"  cried  the  baron.  ''  His  father  is  one  of 
my  old  Leyden  acquaintances.  He  was  a  worthy,  ex- 
cellent man  before  the  craze  for  liberty  turned  people's 
heads.      The  youth,  too,  has  a  face  pleasant  to  look  at. 


54  THE    burgomaster's    WIFE. 

There  is  something  pure  about  it — something — it's  hard 
to  say,  something — what  do  you  think,  Nico  ?  Doesn't 
he  look  hke  our  Saint  Sebastian  ?  Shall  I  speak  to  him 
and  thank  him  for  his  kindness  ?" 

The  baron,  without  waiting  for  his  son,  whom  he 
treated  as  an  equal,  to  reply,  rose  to  give  expression  to 
his  friendly  feelings  towards  the  musician,  but  this  lauda- 
ble intention  met  with  an  unexpected  obstacle. 

The  man,  whom  the  baron  had  called  the  fencing- 
master  Allertssohn,  had  just  perceived  that  the  "  Clippers" 
cloaks  were  hanging  by  the  fire,  while  his  friend's  and  his 
own  were  flung  on  a  bench.  This  fact  seemed  to  greatly 
irritate  the  Leyden  burgher ;  for  as  the  baron  rose,  he 
pushed  his  own  chair  violently  back,  bent  his  muscular 
body  forward,  rested  both  arms  on  the  edge  of  the  table 
opposite  to  him  and,  with  a  jerking  motion,  turned  his 
soldierly  face  sometimes  towards  the  baron,  and  some- 
times towards  the  landlord.     At  last  he  shouted  loudly  : 

"  Peter  Quatgelat — you  villain,  you  !  What  ails  you, 
you,  miserable  hunchback! — Who  gives  you  a  right  to 
toss  our  cloaks  into  a  corner  ?"  * 

"  Yours,  Captain,"  stammered  the  host,  ^'  were 
already — " 

^'  Hold  your  tongue,  you  fawning  knave  !"  thundered 
the  other  in  so  loud  a  tone  and  such  excitement,  that  the 
long  grey  moustache  on  his  upper  Hp  shook,  and  the 
thick  beard  on  his  chin  trembled.  "  Hold  your  tongue  1 
We  know  better.  Jove's  thunder  !  Nobleman's  cloaks 
are  favored  here.  They're  of  Spanish  cut.  That  ex- 
actly suits  the  Clippers'  faces.  Cood  Dutch  cloth  is 
thrown  into  the  corner.  Ho,  ho.  Brother  Crooklegs^ 
we'll  put  you  on  parade." 

''  Pray,  most  noble  Captain  — " 


THE    burgomaster's    WIFE.  55 

"  I'll  blow  away  your  most  noble,  you  worthless 
scamp,  you  arrant  rascal !  First  come,  first  served,  is 
the  rule  in  Holland,  and  has  been  ever  since  the  days  of 
Adam  and  Eve.  Prick  up  your  ears,  Crooklegs !  If 
my  *  most  noble '  cloak,  and  Herr  Wilhelm's  too,  are  not 
hanging  in  their  old  places  before  I  count  twenty, 
something  will  happen  here  that  won't  suit  you.  One — 
two  —  three — " 

The  landlord  cast  a  timid,  questioning  glance  at  the 
nobleman,  and  as  the  latter  shrugged  his  shoulders  and 
said  audibly :  "  There  is  probably  room  for  more  than 
two  cloaks  at  the  fire,"  Quatgelat  took  the  Leyden 
guests'  wraps  from  the  bench  and  hung  them  on  two 
chairs,  which  he  pushed  up  to  the  mantel-piece. 

While  this  was  being  done,  the  fencing-master  slowly 
continued  to  count.  By  the  time  he  reached  twenty  the 
landlord  had  finished  his  task,  yet  the  irate  captain  still 
gave  him  no  peace,  but  said : 

''  Now  our  reckoning,  man.  Wind  and  storm  are  far 
from  pleasant,  but  I  know  even  worse  company.  There's 
room  enough  at  the  fire  for  four  cloaks,  and  in  Holland 
for  all  the  animals  in  Noah's  ark,  except  Spaniards  and 
the  allies  of  Spain.  Deuce  take  it,  all  the  bile  in  my 
Hver  is  stirred.  Come  to  the  horses  with  me,  Herr 
Wilhelm,  or  there'll  be  mischief." 

The  fencing-master,  while  uttering  the  last  words, 
stared  angrily  at  the  nobleman  with  his  prominent  eyes, 
which  even  under  ordinary  circumstances,  always  looked 
as  keen  as  if  they  had  something  marvellous  to  ex- 
amine. 

Wibisma  pretended  not  to  hear  the  provoking  words, 
and,  as  the  fencing-master  left  the  room,  walked  calmly, 
with  head  erect,  towards  the  musician,  bowed  court- 


56                            THE    burgomaster's    WIFE.  j 

eously,  and  thanked  him  for  die  kindness  he  had  shown  ! 

his  son  the  day  before.  \ 

''  You  are  not  in  the  least  indebted  to  me,"  repUed  j 

AVilhelm  Cornehussohn.     "  I  helped  the  young  noble-  : 

man,  because  it  always  has  an  ill  look  when  numbers  \ 

attack  one."  ; 

''  Then  allow  me  to  praise  this  opinion,"  replied  the  i 

baron.  : 

''  Opinion,"    repeated    the    musician   with    a    subtle  | 

smile,  drawing  a  few  notes  on  the  table.  \ 

The  baron  watched  his  fingers  silently  a  short  time,  \ 

then  advanced  nearer  the  young  man,  asking :  : 

''  Must    everything   now  relate   to   political  dissen-  I 

sions  ?"  1 

"  Yes,"  replied  Wilhelm  firmly,  turning  his  face  with  ; 

a  rapid  movement  towards  the  older  man.     "  In  these  \ 

times    ^  yes,'    twenty    times    ^  yes.'       You   wouldn't    do  ; 

well  to  discuss  opinions  with  me,  Herr  Matanesse."  ] 

^'  Every  man,"  replied  the  nobleman,  shrugging  his  ^ 

shoulders,    ''every   man    of    course    believes    his   own  i 

opinion  the  right  one,  yet  he  ought  to  respect  the  views  \ 

of  those  who  think  differently."  ■ 

"  No,   my   lord,"   cried  the    musician.      "  In   these  \ 

times  there  is  but  oue  opinion  for  us.     I  wish  to  share  \ 

nothing,  not   even  a  drink  at  the  table,  with  any  man  1 

who  has  Holland  blood,  and  feels  differently.     Excuse  j 

me,  my  lord;   my  travelling  companion,  as  you  have .  : 

unfortunately  learned,   has    an    impatient    temper   and  ; 

doesn't  like  to  wait."  ; 

Wilhelm  bowed  distantly,  waved  his  hand  to  Nicolas,  -: 

approached  the  chimney-piece,  took  the  half-dried  cloaks  ' 

on  his  arm,  tossed  a  coin  on  the  table  and,  holding  in  \ 


THE    burgomaster's    WIFE.  57 

his  hands  a  covered  cage  in  which  several  birds  were 
fluttering,  left  the  room. 

The  baron  gazed  after  him  in  silence.  The  simple 
words  and  the  young  man's  departure  aroused  painful 
emotions.  He  believed  he  desired  what  was  right,  yet 
at  this  moment  a  feeling  stole  over  him  that  a  stain 
rested  on  the  cause  he  supported. 

It  is  more  endurable  to  be  courted  than  avoided, 
and  thus  an  expression  of  deep  annoyance  rested  on 
the  nobleman's  pleasant  features  as  he  returned  to  his 
son. 

Nicolas  had  not  lost  a  single  word  uttered  by  the 
organist,  and  the  blood  left  his  ruddy  cheeks  as  he  was 
.forced  to  see  this  man,  whose  appearance  had  especially 
won  his  young  heart,  turn  his  back  upon  his  father  as  if 
he  were  a  dishonorable  man  to  be  avoided. 

The  words,  with  which  Janus  Dousa  had  left  him 
the  day  before,  returned  to  his  mind  with  great  force, 
and  when  the  baron  again  seated  himself  opposite  him, 
the  boy  raised  his  eyes  and  said  hesitatingly,  but  with 
touching  earnestness  and  sincere  anxiety : 

"  Father,  what  does  that  mean  ?  Father — are  they 
so  wholly  wrong,  if  they  would  rather  be  Hollanders 
than  Spaniards  ?  " 

Wibisma  looked  at  his  son  with  surprise  and  dis- 
pleasure, and  because  he  felt  his  own  firmness  wavering, 
and  a  blustering  word  often  does  good  service  where  there 
is  lack  of  possibility  or  inclination  to  contend  against 
reasons,  he  exclaimed  more  angrily  than  he  had  spoken 
to  his  son  for  years  : 

"  Are  you,  too,  beginning  to  relish  the  bait  with 
which  Orange  lures  simpletons  ?  Another  word  of  that 
kind,  and  I'll  show  you  how  malapert  lads  are  treated. 


S8  THE  burgomaster's  wife. 

Here,  landlord,  what's  the  meaning  of  that  nonsense 
on  yonder  tree  ?" 

"  The  people,  my  lord,  the  Leyden  fools  are  ta 
blame  for  the  mischief,  not  I.  They  decked  the  tree  out 
in  that  ridiculous  way,  when  the  troops  stationed  in  the 
city  during  the  siege  retired.  I  keep  this  house  as  a 
tenant  of  old  Herr  Van  der  Does,  and  dare  not  have 
any  opinions  of  my  own,  for  people  must  live,  but,  as 
truly  as  I  hope  for  salvation,  I'm  loyal  to  King  Philip." 

*^  Until  the  Leyden  burghers  come  out  here  again," 
replied  Wibisma  bitterly.  ''  Did  you  keep  this  inn  dur- 
ing the  siege  ?" 

''  Yes,  my  lord,  the  Spaniards  had  no  cause  to  com- 
plain of  me,  and  if  a  poor  man's  services  are  not  too  in- 
significant for  you,  they  are  at  your  disposal." 

"  Ah !  ha !"  muttered  the  baron,  gazing  attentively 
at  the  landlord's  disagreeable  face,  whose  little  eyes 
glittered  very  craftily,  then  turning  to  Nicolas,  said  : 

*'  Go  and  watch  the  blackbirds  in  the  window  yon- 
der a  little  while,  my  son,  I  have  something  to  say  to 
the  host." 

The  youth  instantly  obeyed  and  as,  instead  of  look- 
ing at  the  birds,  he  gazed  after  the  two  enthusiastic 
supporters  of  Holland's  liberty,  who  were  riding  along 
the  road  leading  to  Delft,  remembered  the  simile  of  fet- 
ters that  drag  men  down,  and  saw  rising  before  his  men- 
tal vision  the  glitter  of  the  gold  chain  King  Philip  had 
sent  his  father,  Nicolas  involuntarily  glanced  towards 
him  as  he  stood  whispering  eagerly  with  the  landlord. 
Now  he  even  laid  his  hand  on  his  shoulder.  Was  it 
right  for  him  to  hold  intercourse  with  a  man  whom  he 
must  'despise  at  heart  ?  Or  was  he — he  shuddered,  for 
the  word  "  traitor,"  which  one  of  the  school-boys  had 


THE    BURGOMASTERS    WIFE.  59 

shouted  in  his  ears  during  the  quarrel  before  the  churchy 
returned  to  his  memory. 

When  the  rain  grew  less  violent,  the  travellers  left  the 
inn.  The  baron  allowed  the  hideous  landlord  to  kiss 
his  hand  at  parting,  but  Nicolas  would  not  suffer  him 
to  touch  his. 

Few  words  were  exchanged  between  father  and  son. 
during  the  remainder  of  their  ride  to  the  Hague,  but  the 
musician  and  the  fencing- master  were  less  silent  on  the 
way  to  Delft. 

Wilhelm  had  modestly,  as  beseemed  the  younger 
man,  suggested  that  his  companion  had  expressed  his 
hostile  feelings  towards  the  nobleman  too  openly. 

"  True,  perfectly  true,"  replied  Allertssohn,  whom 
his  friends  called  "  Allerts."  "  Very  true !  Temper — 
oh !  temper !  You  don't  suspect,  Herr  Wilhelm  —  But 
we'll  let  it  pass." 

''  No,  speak,  Meister." 

''  You'll  think  no  better  of  me,  if  I  do." 

''Then  let  us  talk  of  something  else." 

"  No,  Wilhelm.  I  needn't  be  ashamed,  no  one  will 
take  me  for  a  coward." 

The  musician  laughed,  exclaiming:  "  You  a  coward! 
How  many  Spaniards  has  your  Brescian  sword  killed  ?"" 

"  Wounded,  wounded,  sir,  far  oftener  than  killed," 
repHed  the  other.  "  If  the  devil  challenges  me  I  shall 
ask :  Foils,  sir,  or  Spanish  swords  ?  But  there's  one 
person  I  do  fear,  and  that's  my  best  and  at  the  same 
time  my  worst  friend,  a  Netherlander,  like  yourself,  the 
man  who  rides  here  beside  you.  Yes,  when  rage  seizes 
upon  me,  when  my  beard  begins  to  tremble,  my  small 
share  of  sense  flies  away  as  fast  as  your  doves  when  you 
let  them  go.     You  don't  know  me,  Wilhelm." 


6o  THE  burgomaster's  wife.  i 

*'  Don't  I  ?  How  often  must  one  see  you  in  com-^ 
mand  and  visit  you  in  the  fencing-room  ?  "  \ 

^' Pooh,  pooh — there  I'm  as  quiet  as  the  water  inj 
yonder  ditch  —  but  when  anything  goes  against  the| 
grain,  when — how  shall  I  explain  it  to  you,  without] 
similes  ?  "  ] 

"  Go  on."  I 

''  For  instance,  when  I  am  obliged  to  see  a  syco-i 
phant  treated  as  if  he  were  Sir  Upright — "  i 

^'  So  that  vexes  you  gready  ?"  \ 

''  Vexes  ?  No!  Then  I  grow  as  savage  as  a  tiger,; 
and  I  ought  not  to  be  so,  I  ought  not.  Roland,  my\ 
fore  man,  probably  likes — "  ] 

^'  Meister,  Meister,  your  beard  is  beginning  to  trem-j 
ble  already !"  ! 

^' What  did  the  Clippers  think,  when  their  aristocra-j 
tic  cloaks — "  j 

'^The  landlord  took  yours  and  mine  from  the  fire- 
entirely  on  his  own  responsibility."  j 

"  I  don't  care !  The  crook-legged  ape  did  it  to  honor  j 
the  Spanish  sycophant.  It  enraged  me,  it  was  intolera-i 
ble."  i 

"  You  didn't  keep  your  wrath  to  yourself^  and  I  wasj 
surprised  to  see  how  patiently  the  baron  bore  your  in-j 
suits."  I 

''That's  just  it,  that's  it!"  cried  the  fencing-master,! 
while  his  beard  began  to  twitch  violently.  "  That's  j 
what  drove  me  out  of  the  tavern,  that's  why  I  took  to] 
my  heels.     That — that — Roland,  my  fore  man." 

''  I  don't  understand  you."  i 

''  Don't  you,  don't  you  ?  How  should  you ;  but  I'llj 
explain.  When  you're  as  old  as  I  am,  young  man,i 
you'll  experience  it  too.     There  are  few  perfectly  sounds 


THE    burgomaster's    WIFE.  6l 

trees  in  the  forest,  few  horses  without  a  blemish,  few 
swords  without  a  stain,  and  scarcely  a  man  who  has 
passed  his  fortieth  year  that  has  not  a  worm  in  his 
breast.  Some  gnaw  slightly,  others  torture  with  sharp 
fangs,  and  mine — mine. — Do  you  want  to  cast  a  glance 
in  here  ?" 

The  fencing-master  struck  his  broad  chest  as  he  ut- 
tered these  words  and,  without  waiting  for  his  compan- 
ion's reply,  continued : 

^'  You  know  me  and  my  life,  Herr  Wilhelm.  What 
do  I  do,  what  do  I  practise  ?  Only  chivalrous  work. 
My  life  is  based  upon  the  sword.  Do  you  know  a  bet- 
ter blade  or  surer  hand  than  mine  ?  Do  my  soldiers 
obey  me  ?  Have  I  spared  my  blood  in  fighting  before 
the  red  walls  and  towers  yonder  ?  No,  by  my  fore 
man  Roland,  no,  no,  a  thousand  times  no." 

^•'  Who  denies  it,  Meister  Allerts  ?  But  tell  me,  what 
do  you  mean  by  your  cry  :  Roland,  my  fore  man  ?" 

"  Another  time,  Wilhelm  ;  you  mustn't  interrupt  me 
now.  Hear  my  story  about  where  the  worm  hides  in 
me.  So  once  more :  What  I  do,  the  calling  I  follow,  is 
knightly  work,  yet  when  a  Wibisma,  who  learned  how 
to  use  his  sword  from  my  father,  treats  me  ill  and  stirs 
up  my  bile,  if  I  should  presume  to  challenge  him,  as 
would  be  my  just  right,  what  would  he  do  ?  Laugh  and 
ask :  ^  What  will  the  passado  cost,  Fencing-master  Al- 
lerts? Have  you  polished  rapiers  ?'  Perhaps  he  wouldn't 
even  answer  at  all,  and  we  saw  just  now  how  he  acts. 
His  glance  slipped  past  me  like  an  eel,  and  he  had  wax 
in  his  ears.  Whether  I  reproach,  or  a  cur  yelps  at  him, 
is  all  the  same  to  his  lordship.  If  only  a  Renneberg 
or  Brederode  had  been  in  my  place  just  now,  how 
quickly  Wibisma's    sword    would   have  flown  from  its 


62  THE    burgomaster's    WIFE. 

sheath,  for  he  understands  how  to  fight  and  is  no 
coward.  But  I — I  ?  Nobody  would  wilHngly  allow 
himself  to  be  struck  in  the  face,  yet  so  surely  as  my 
father  was  a  brave  man,  even  the  worst  insult  could  be 
more  easily  borne,  than  the  feeling  of  being  held  in  too  J 
slight  esteem  to  be  able  to  offer  an  affront.  You  see,  1 
Wilhelm,  when  the  Clipper  looked  past  me — "  ] 

"  Your  beard  lost  its  calmness."  ] 

"  It's  all  very  well  for  you  to  jest,  you  don't  know — "  ) 

"  Yes,  yes,  Herr  Allerts ;  I  understand  you  per-  \ 
fectly."  ] 

"  And  do  you  also  understand,  why  I  took  myself  j 
and  my  sword  out  of  doors  so  quickly  ?"  | 

"  Perfectly ;  but  please  stop  a  moment  with  me  now.  I 
The  doves  are  fluttering  so  violently;  they  want  air."      \ 

The  fencing-master  stopped  his  steed,  and  while  1 
Wilhelm  was  removing  the  dripping  cloth  from  the  little  ; 
cage  that  rested  between  him  and  his  horse's  neck,  ; 
said :  j 

"  How  can  a  man  trouble  himself  about  such  gentle  | 
little  creatures  ?  If  you  want  to  diminish,  in  behalf  of  ■ 
feathered  folk,  the  time  given  to  music,  tame  falcons,  ; 
that's  a  knightly  craft,  and  I  can  teach  you." 

"  Let  my  doves  alone,"  replied  Wilhelm.  "  They 
are  not  so  harmless  as  people  suppose,  and  have  done 
good  service  in  many  a  war,  which  is  certainly  chival- 
rous pastime.  Remember  Haarlem.  There,  it's  begin- 
ning to  pour  again.  If  my  cloak  were  only  not  so 
short ;  I  would  like  to  cover  the  doves  with  it." 

"  You  certainly  look  like  Goliath  in  David's  gar- 
ments." 

^'  It's  my  scholar's  cloak ;  I  put  my  other  on  young 
Wibisma's  shoulders  yesterday." 


CHAPTER  VII.  \x  Q^ 


THK    burgomaster's    WIFE.  63 

^"  The  Spanish  green-finch  ?  " 
"  I  told  you  about  the  boys'  brawl." 
"  Yes,  yes.     And  the  monkey  kept  your  cloak  ?  " 
"  You  came  for  me  and  wouldn't  wait.     They  prob- 
ably sent  it  back  soon  after  our  departure."- 

"  And   their   lordships  expect  thanks   because   the 
young  nobleman  accepted  it !" 

"  No,  no;  the  baron  expressed  his  gratitude." 
''  But  that  doesn't  make  your  cape  any  longer.   Take 
my  cloak,  Wilhelm.     I've  no  doves  to  shelter,  and  my 
skin  is  thicker  than  yours."  ^^'^  -^-^ 

V       OF  TiJE        'r\ 

UNIVERSIT! 

A  SECOND  and  third  rainy  day  followed  the^rst  Otre."^ 

White  mists  and  grey  fog  hung  over  the  meadows.    The  i 

cold,  damp   north-west  wind  drove  heavy  clouds  to-  : 

gether  and  darkened  the  sky.    Rivulets  dashed  into  the  \ 

streets  from  the  gutters  on  the  steep  roofs  of  Leyden ;  ; 

the  water  in  the  canals  and  ditches  grew  turbid  and  j 

rose  towards  the  edges  of  the  banks.      Dripping,  freez-  I 

ing  men  and  women  hurried  past  each  other  without  j 

any  form  of  greeting,  while  the  pair  of  storks  pressed  \ 

closer  to  each  other  in  their  nest,  and  thought  of  the  \ 

warm  south,  lamenting  their  premature  return   to  the  \ 

cold,  damp,  Netherland  plain.  j 

In  thoughtful  minds  the  dread  of  what  must  inevi-  ] 

tably  come  was  increasing.      The  rain   made  anxiety  \ 

grow  as  rapidly  in   the  hearts  of  many  citizens,  as  the  \ 

young  blades  of  grain  in  the  fields.    Conversations,  that  \ 

sounded  anything  but  hopeful,  took  place  in  many  tap-  ^ 


64  THE    burgomaster's    WIFE.  ; 

rooms — in  otliers  men  were  even  heard  declaring  re-  ! 
sistance  folly,  or  loudly  demanding  the  desertion  of  the  \ 
cause  of  the  Prince  of  Orange  and  Hberty.  ! 

Whoever  in  these  days  desired  to  see  a  happy  face  i 
in  Leyden  might  have  searched  long  in  vain,  and  would  j 
probably  have  least  expected  to  find  it  in  the  house  of  \ 
Burgomaster  Van  der  Werff  i 

Three  days  had  now  elapsed  since  Peter's  departure,  \ 
nay  the  fourth  was  drawing  towards  noon,  yet  the  bur-  , 
gomaster  had  not  returned,  and  no  message,  no  word  of  ; 
explanation,  had  reached  his  family.  i 

Maria  had  put  on  her  light-blue  cloth  dress  with  ; 
Mechlin  lace  in  the  square  neck,  for  her  husband  par-  i 
ticularly  liked  to  see  her  in  this  gown  and  he  must  surely  1 
return  to-day.  . 

The  spray  of  yellow  wall-flowers  on  her  breast  had  ! 
been  cut  from  the  blooming  plant  in  the  window  of  her  j 
room,  and  Barbara  had  helped  arrange  her  thick  hair.      j 

It  lacked  only  an  hour  of  noon,  when  the  young  ; 
wife's  delicate,  slender  figure,  carrying  a  white  duster  in  , 
her  hand,  entered  the  burgomaster's  study.  Here  she  j 
stationed  herself  at  the  window,  from  which  the  pouring  i 
rain  streamed  in  numerous  crooked  serpentine  lines,  ] 
pressed  her  forehead  against  the  panes,  and  gazed  down  ' 
into  the  quiet  street. 

The  water  was  standing  between  the  smooth  red  j 
tiles  of  the  pavement.  A  porter  clattered  by  in  heavy  I 
wooden  shoes,  a  maid-servant,  with  a  shawl  wrapped  I 
around  her  head,  hurried  swifdy  past,  a  shoemaker's  i 
boy,  with  a  pair  of  boots  hanging  on  his  back,  jumped  j 
from  puddle  to  puddle,  carefully  avoiding  the  dry  j 
places; — no  horseman  appeared.  \ 

■  It  was  almost  unnaturally  quiet  in  the  house  and  ^ 


THE    burgomaster's    WIFE.  65 

Street;  she  heard  nothing  except  the  plashing  of  the 
rain.  Maria  could  not  expect  her  husband  until  the 
beat  of  horses'  hoofs  was  audible;  she  was  not  even 
gazing  into  the  distance — only  dreamily  watching  the 
street  and  the  ceaseless  rain. 

The  room  had  been  thoughtfully  heated  for  the 
drenched  man,  whose  return  was  expected,  but  Maria 
felt  the  cold  air  through  the  chinks  in  the  windows. 
She  shivered,  and  as  she  turned  back  into  the  dusky 
room,  it  seemed  as  if  this  twilight  atmosphere  must 
always  remain,  as  if  no  more  bright  days  could  ever 
come. 

Minutes  passed  before  she  remembered  for  what 
purpose  she  had  entered  the  room  and  began  to  pass 
the  dusting-cloth  over  the  writing-table,  the  piles  of 
papers,  and  the  rest  of  the  contents  of  the  apartment. 
At  last  she  approached  the  pistols,  which  Peter  had  not 
taken  with  him  on  his  journey. 

The  portrait  of  her  husband's  first  wife  hung  above 
the  weapons  and  sadly  needed  dusting,  for  until  now 
Maria  had  always  shrunk  from  touching  it. 

To-day  she  summoned  up  her  courage,  stood  op- 
posite to  it,  and  gazed  steadily  at  the  youthful  features 
of  the  woman,  with  whom  Peter  had  been  happy.  She 
felt  spellbound  by  the  brown  eyes  that  gazed  at  her  from 
the  pleasant  face. 

Yes,  the  woman  up  there  looked  happy,  almost  in- 
solently happy.  How  much  more  had  Peter  probably 
given  to  his  first  wife  than  to  her  ? 

This  thought  cut  her  to  the  heart,  and  without  mov- 
ing her  lips  she  addressed  a  series  of  questions  to  the 
silent  portrait,  which  still  gazed  steadily  and  serenely  at 
her  from  its  plain  frame. 


66  THE  burgomaster's  wife. 

Once  it  seemed  as  if  the  full  lips  of  the  pictured 
face  quivered,  once  that  the  eyes  moved.  A  chill  ran 
through  her  veins,  she  began  to  be  afraid,  yet  could  not 
leave  the  portrait,  and  stood  gazing  upward  with  dilated 
eyes. 

She  did  not  stir,  but  her  breath  came  quicker  and 
quicker,  and  her  eyes  seemed  to  grow  keener. 

A  shadow  rested  on  the  dead  Eva's  high  forehead. 

Had  the  artist  intended  to  depict  some  oppressive 
anxiety,  or  was  what  she  saw  only  dust,  that  had  settled 
on  the  colors  ? 

She  pushed  a  chair  towards  the  portrait  and  put  her 
foot  on  the  seat,  pushing  her  dress  away  in  doing  so. 
Blushing,  as  if  other  eyes  than  the  painted  ones  were 
gazing  down  upon  her,  she  drew  it  over  the  white  stock- 
ing, then  with  a  rapid  movement  mounted  the  seat. 

She  could  now  look  directly  into  the  eyes  of  the  por- 
trait. The  cloth  in  Maria's  trembling  hand  passed  over 
Eva's  brow,  and  wiped  the  shadow  from  the  rosy  flesh. 
She  now  blew  the  dust  from  the  frame  and  canvas,  and 
perceived  the  signature  of  the  artist  to  whom  the  picture 
owed  its  origin.  ^' Artjen  of  Leyden,"  he  called  himself, 
and  his  careful  hand  had  finished  even  the  unimportant 
parts  of  the  work  with  minute  accuracy.  She  well  knew 
the  silver  chain  with  the  blue  turquoises,  that  rested  on 
the  plump  neck.  Peter  had  given  it  to  her  as  a  wedding 
present,  and  she  had  worn  it  to  the  altar;  but  the  little 
diamond  cross  suspended  from  the  middle  she  had  never 
seen.  The  gold  buckle  at  Eva's  belt  had  belonged  to 
her  since  her  last  birthday — it  was  very  badly  bent,  and 
the  dull  points  would  scarcely  pierce  the  thick  ribbon. 

"  S/ie  had  everything  when  it  was  new,"  she  said  to 
herself.     ^'  Jewels !    What  do  I  care  for  them  !    But  the 


THE    burgomaster's    WIFE.  6j 

heart,  the  heart — how  much  love  has  she  left  in  Petei^s 
heart  ?" 

She  did  not  wish  to  do  so,  but  constantly  heard 
these  words  ringing  in  her  ears,  and  was  obliged  to  sum- ' 
mon  up  all  her  self-control,  to  save  herself  from  weeping. 

"If  he  would  only  come,  if  he  would  only  come!" 
cried  a  voice  in  her  tortured  soul. 

The  door  opened,  but  she  did  not  notice  it. 

Barbara  crossed  the  threshold,  and  called  her  by  her 
name  in  a  tone  of  kindly  reproach. 

Maria  started  and  blushing  deeply,  said : 

'^  Please  give  me  your  hand ;  I  should  Hke  to  get 
down.     I  have  finished.     The  dust  was  a  disgrace." 

When  she  again  stood  on  the  floor,  the  widow  said : 

"  What  red  cheeks  you  have  !  Listen,  my  dear  sister- 
in-law,  hsten  to  me,  child — !" 

Barbara  was  interrupted  in  the  midst  of  her  admoni- 
tion, for  the  knocker  fell  heavily  on  the  door,  and  Maria 
hurried  to  the  window. 

The  widow  followed,  and  after  a  hasty  glance  into 
the  street,  exclaimed : 

"  That's  Wilhelm  Corneliussohn,  the  musician.  He 
has  been  to  Delft.  I  heard  it  from  his  mother.  Per- 
haps he  brings  news  of  Peter.  I'll  send  him  up  to  you, 
but  he  must  first  tell  me  below  what  his  tidings  are.  If 
you  want  me,  you'll  find  me  with  Bessie.  She  is 
feverish  and  her  eyes  ache ;  she  will  have  some  eruption 
or  a  fever." 

Barbara  left  the  room.  Maria  pressed  her  hands 
upon  her  burning  cheeks,  and  paced  slowly  to  and  fro 
till  the  musician  knocked  and  entered. 

After  the  first  greeting,  the  young  wife  asked 
eagerly : 


6S  THE  burgomaster's  wife.  \ 

i 
"  Did  you  see  my  husband  in  Delft  ?" 

*'  Yes  indeed,"  replied  Wilhelm,  "  the  evening  of  the  | 
day  before  yesterday."  | 

''  Then  tell  me—"  \ 

"  At  once,  at  once.  I  bring  you  a  whole  pouch  full  i 
of  messages.     First  from  your  mother." 

"Is  she  well?"  \ 

"  Well  and  bright.     Worthy  Doctor  Groot  too  is ' 

hale  and  hearty."  ■ 

■    "  And  my  husband  ?  "  \ 

"I  found  him  with  the  doctor.  Herr  Groot  sends ' 
the  kindest  remembrances  to  you.  We  had  musical ; 
entertainments  at  his  home  yesterday  and  the  day  be-  \ 
fore.  He  always  has  the  latest  novelties  from  Italy,  i 
and  when  we  try  this  motet  here — "  j 

"  Afterwards,  Herr  Wilhelm !  You  must  first  tell ! 
me  what  my  husband  —  " 

"  The  burgomaster  came  to  the  doctor  on  a  message  \ 
from  the  Prince.  He  was  in  haste,  and  could  not  wait  i 
for  the  singing.  It  went  off  admirably.  If  you,  with  j 
your  magnificent  voice,  will  only — "  \ 

"  Pray,  Meister  Wilhelm  ?  "  I 

"  No,  dear  lady,  you  ought  not  to  refuse.  Doctor : 
Groot  says,  that  when  a  girl  in  Delft,  no  one  could  sup-  \ 
port  the  tenor  like  you,  and  if  you,  Frau  von  Nordwyk,  i 
and  Herr  Van  Aken's  oldest  daughter — " 

"  But,  my  dear  Meister ! "  exclaimed  the  burgo-  i 
master's  wife  with  increasing  impatience,  "  I'm  not  ask-  ■ 
ing  about  your  motets  and  tabulatures,  but  my  husband."  i 

Wilhelm  gazed  at  the  young  wife's  face  with  a  half- ; 
startled,  half^astonished  look.  Then,  smiling  at  his  own  I 
awkwardness,  he  shook  his  head,  saying  in  a  tone  of' 
good-natured  repentance :  \ 


THE    burgomaster's    WIFE.  69 

"  Pray  forgive  me,  little  things  seem  unduly  im- 
portant to  us  when  they  completely  fill  our  own  souls. 
One  word  about  your  absent  husband  must  surely  sound 
sweeter  to  your  ears,  than  all  my  music.  I  ought  to 
have  thought  of  that  sooner.  So — the  burgomaster  is 
well  and  has  transacted  a  great  deal  of  business  with 
the  Prince.  Before  he  went  to  Dortrecht  yesterday 
morning,  he  gave  me  this  letter  and  charged  me  to 
place  it  in  your  hands  with  the  most  loving  greetings." 

With  these  words  the  musician  gave  Maria  a  letter. 
She  hastily  took  it  from  his  hand,  saying : 

*^  No  offence,  Herr  Wilhelm,  but  we'll  discuss  your 
motet  to-morrow,  or  whenever  you  choose;  to-day  — " 

"To-day  your  time  belongs  to  this  letter,"  inter- 
rupted Wilhelm.  "  That  is  only  natural.  The  messen- 
ger has  performed  his  commission,  and  the  music-master 
will  try  his  fortune  with  you  another  time." 

As  soon  as  the  young  man  had  gone,  Maria  went  to 
her  room,  sat  down  at  the  window,  hurriedly  opened 
her  husband's  letter  and  read  : 

*'  My  Dear  and  Faithful  Wife  ! 

Meister  Wilhelm  Corneliussohn,  of  Leyden,  will 
bring  you  this  letter.  I  am  well,  but  it  was  hard  for  me 
to  leave  you  on  the  anniversary  of  our  wedding-day. 
The  weather  is  very  bad.  I  found  the  Prince  in  sore 
affliction,  but  we  don't  give  up  hope,  and  if  God  helps 
us  and  every  man  does  his  duty,  all  may  yet  be  well. 
I  am  obliged  to  ride  to  Dortrecht  to-day.  I  have  an 
important  object  to  accomplish  there.  Have  patience, 
for  several  days  must  pass  before  my  return. 

*'  If  the  messenger  from  the  council  inquires,  give  him 
the  papers  lying  on  the  right-hand  side  of  the  writing- 


yo  THE    BURGOMASTERS    WIFE. 

table  under  the  smaller  leaden  weight.     Remember  me 
to  Barbara  and  the  children.     If  money  is  needed,  ask 
Van  Hout  in  my  name  for  the  rest  of  the  sum  due  me; 
he  knows  about  it.     If  you  feel  lonely,  visit  his  wife  or 
Frau  von  Nordwyk;  they  would  be  glad  to  see  you. 
Buy  as  much  meal,  butter,  cheese,  and  smoked  meat,  as 
is  possible.     We  don't  know  what  may  happen.      Take  ; 
Barbara's  advice  !     Relying  upon  your  obedience. 
Your  faithful  husband, 
Peter  Adrianssohn  Van  der  Werff." 

Maria  read  this  letter  at  first  hastily,  then  slowly, 
sentence    by    sentence,   to    the    end.      Disappointed, 
troubled,  wounded,  she  folded  it,  drew  the  wall-flowers 
from  the  bosom  of  her  dress — she  knew  not  why — and  : 
flung  them  into  the  peat-box  by   the   chimney-piece,  i 
Then  she  opened  her  chest,  took  out  a  prettily-carved  ' 
box,  placed  it  on  the  table,  and  laid  her  husband's  let-  \ 
ter  inside. 

Long  after  it  had  found  a  place  with  other  papers,  ; 
Maria  still  stood  before  the  casket,  gazing  thoughtfully 
at  its  contents. 

At  last  she  laid  her  hand  on  the  lid  to  close  it ;  but 
hesitated  and  took  up  a  packet  of  letters  that  had  lain 
amid  several  gold  and  silver  coins,  given  by  godmothers 
and  godfathers,  modest  trinkets,  and  a  withered  rose. 

Drawing  a  chair  up  to  the  table,  the  young  wife 
seated  herself  and  began  to  read.  She  knew  these  let- 
ters well  enough.  A  noble,  promising  youth  had  ad- 
dressed them  to  her  sister,  his  betrothed  bride.  They 
were  dated  from  Jena,  whither  he  had  gone  to  complete 
his  studies  in  jurisprudence.  Every  word  expressed  the 
lover's  ardent  longing,  every  line  was  pervaded  by  the  " 


i 


f 


THE    burgomaster's    WIFE.  71- 


passion  that  had  filled  the  writer's  heart.  Often  the 
prose  of  the  young  scholar,  who  as  a  pupil  of  Doctor 
Groot  had  won  his  bride  in  Delft,  rose  to  a  lofty  flight. 

While  reading,  Maria  saw  in  imagination  Jacoba's 
pretty  face,  and  the  handsome,  enthusiastic  countenance 
of  her  bridegroom.  She  remembered  their  gay  wed- 
ding, her  brother-in-law's  impetuous  friend,  so  lavishly 
endowed  with  every  gift  of  nature,  who  had  accom- 
panied him  to  Holland  to  be  his  groomsman,  and  at 
parting  had  given  her  the  rose  which  lay  before  her  in 
the  little  casket.  No  voice  had  ever  suited  hers  so  well; 
she  had  never  heard  language  so  poetical  from  any 
other  lips,  never  had  eyes  that  sparkled  like  the  young 
Thuringian  noble's  looked  into  hers. 

After  the  wedding  Georg  von  Dornberg  returned 
home  and  the  young  couple  went  to  Haarlem.  She  had 
heard  nothing  from  the  young  foreigner,  and  her  sister 
and  her  husband  were  soon  silenced  forever.  Like  most 
of  the  inhabitants  of  Haarlem,  they  were  put  to  death 
by  the  Spanish  destroyers  at  the  capture  of  the  noble, 
hapless  city.  Nothing  was  left  of  her  beloved  sister  ex- 
cept a  faithful  memory  of  her,  and  her  betrothed  bride- 
groom's letters,  which  she  now  held  in  her  hand. 

They  expressed  love^  the  true,  lofty  love,  that  can 
speak  with  the  tongues  of  angels  and  move  mountains. 

There  lay  her  husband's  letter.  Miserable  scrawl ! 
She  shrank  from  opening  it  again,  as  she  laid  the  beloved 
mementoes  back  into  the  box,  yet  her  breast  heaved  as 
she  thought  of  Peter.  She  knew  too  that,  she  loved 
him,  and  that  his  faithful  heart  belonged  to  her.  But 
she  was  not  satisfied,  she  was  not  happy,  for  he  showed 
her  only  tender  affection  or  paternal  kindness,  and  she 
wished  to  be  loved  differently.      The  pupil,   nay   the 


72  THE    BURGOMASTERS    WIFE. 

friend  of  the  learned  Groot,  the  young  wife  who  had 
grown  up  in  the  society  of  highly  educated  men,  the 
enthusiastic  patriot,  felt  that  she  was  capable  of  being 
more,  far  more  to  her  husband,  than  he  asked.  She  had 
never  expected  gushing  emotions  or  high-strung  phrases 
from  the  grave  man  engaged  in  vigorous  action,  but 
beUeved  he  would  understand  all  the  lofty,  noble  senti- 
ments stirring  in  her  soul,  permit  her  to  share  his 
struggles  and  become  the  partner  of  his  thoughts  and 
feelings.  The  meagre  letter  received  to-day  again 
taught  her  that  her  anticipations  were  not  realized. 

He  had  been  a  faithful  friend  of  her  father,  now 
numbered  with  the  dead.  Her  brother-in-law  too  had 
attached  himself,  with  all  the  enthusiasm  of  youth,  to 
the  older,  fully-matured  champion  of  liberty.  Van  der 
Werff.  When  he  had  spoken  of  Peter  to  Maria,  it  was 
always  with  expressions  of  the  warmest  admiration  and 
love.  Peter  had  come  to  Delft  soon  after  her  father's 
death  and  the  violent  end  of  the  young  wedded  pair, 
and  when  he  expressed  his  sympathy  and  strove  to  com- 
fort her,  did  so  in  strong,  tender  words,  to  which  she 
could  cling,  as  if  to  an  anchor,  in  the  misery  of  her 
heart.  The  valient  citizen  of  Leyden  came  to  Delft 
more  and  more  frequently,  and  was  always  a  guest  at 
Doctor  Groot's  house.  When  the  men  were  engaged  in 
consultation,  Maria  was  permitted  to  fill  their  glasses 
and  be  present  at  their  confefejices.  Words  flew  to  and  fro 
and  often  seemed  to  her  neither  clear  nor  wise ;  but  what 
Van  der  Werff  said  was  always  sensible,  and  a  child 
could  understand  his  plain,  vigorous  speech.  He  ap- 
peared to  the  young  girl  like  an  oak-tree  among  sway- 
ing willows.  She  knew  of  many  of  his  journeys,  under- 
taken at  the  peril  of  his  life,  in  the  service  of  the  Prince 


THE    burgomaster's    WIFE.  73 

and  his  native  land,  and  awaited  their  result  with  a 
throbbing  heart. 

More  than  once  in  those  days,  the  thought  had  en- 
tered her  mind  that  it  would  be  dehghtful  to  be  borne 
through  Hfe  in  the  strong  arms  of  this  steadfast  man. 
Then  he  extended  these  arms,  and  she  yielded  to  his 
wish  as  proudly  and  happily  as  a  squire  summoned  by 
the  king  to  be  made  a  knight.  She  now  remembered 
this  by-gone  time,  and  every  hope  with  which  she  had 
accompanied  him  to  Leyden  rose  vividly  before  her 
soul. 

Her  newly-wedded  husband  had  promised  her  no 
spring,  but  a  pleasant  summer  and  autumn  by  his  side. 
She  could  not  help  thinking  of  this  comparison,  and 
what  entirely  different  things  from  those  she  had  antici- 
pated, the  union  with  him  had  offered  to  this  day. 
Tumult,  anxiety,  conflict,  a  perpetual  alternation  of  hard 
work  and  excessive  fatigue,  this  was  his  life,  the  life  he 
had  summoned  her  to  share  at  his  side,  without  even 
showing  any  desire  to  afford  her  a  part  in  his  cares  and 
labors.  Matters  ought  not,  should  not  go  on  so.  Every- 
thing that  had  seemed  to  her  beautiful  and  pleasant  in 
her  parents*  home — was  being  destroyed  here.  Music 
and  poetry,  that  had  elevated  her  soul,  clever  conver- 
sation, that  had  developed  her  mind,  were  not  to  be 
found  here.  Barbara's  kind  feelings  could  never  sup- 
ply the  place  of  these  lost  possessions ;  for  her  husband's 
love  she  would  have  resigned  them  all — but  what  had 
become  of  this  love  ? 

With  bitter  emotions,  she  replaced  the  casket  in  the 
chest  and  obeyed  the  summons  to  dinner,  but  found  no 
one  at  the  great  table  except  Adrian  and  the  servants. 
Barbara  was  watching  Bessie. 


74  THE  burgomaster's  wife. 

Never  had  she  seemed  to  herself  so  desolate,  so 
lonely,  so  useless  as  to-day.  What  could  she  do  here  ? 
Barbara  ruled  in  kitchen  and  cellar,  and  she — she  only 
stood  in  the  way  of  her  husband's  fulfilling  his  duties  to 
the  city  and  state. 

Such  were  her  thoughts,  when  the  knocker  again 
struck  the  door.  She  approached  the  window.  It  was 
the  doctor.  Bessie  had  grown  worse  and  she,  her 
mother,  had  not  even  inquired  for  the  little  one. 

"The  children,  the  children!"  she  murmured;  her 
sorrowful  features  brightened,  and  her  heart  grew 
.  lighter  as  she  said  to  herself: 

"  I  promised  Peter  to  treat  them  as  if  they  were  my 
own,  and  I  will  fulfil  the  duties  I  have  undertaken." 

Full  of  joyous  excitement,  she  entered  the  sick-room, 
hastily  closing  the  door  behind  her.  Doctor  Bontius 
looked  at  her  with  a  reproving  glance,  and  Barbara 
said : 

"  Gently,  gently !     Bessie  is  just  sleeping  a  little." 

Maria  approached  the  bed,  but  the  physician  waved 
her  back,  saying  : 

"  Have  you  had  the  purple-fever  ?" 

"  No." 

''  Then  you  ought  not  to  enter  this  room  again.  No 
other  help  is  needed  where  Frau  Barbara  nurses." 

The  burgomaster's  wife  made  no  reply,  and  returned 
to  the  entry.  Her  heart  was  so  heavy,  so  unutterably 
heavy.  She  felt  like  a  stranger  in  her  husband's  house. 
Some  impulse  urged  her  to  go  out  of  doors,  and  as  she 
wrapped  her  mantle  around  her  and  went  downstairs, 
the  smell  of  leather  rising  from  the  bales  piled  in  layers 
on  the  lower  story,  which  she  had  scarcely  noticed  be- 
fore, seemed  unendurable.     She  longed  for  her  mother,. 


THE    burgomaster's    WIFE.  75 

her  friends  in  Delft,  and  her  quiet,  cheerful  home.  For 
the  first  time  she  ventured  to  call  herself  unhappy  and, 
while  walking  through  the  streets  with  downcast  eyes 
against  the  wind,  struggled  vainly  to  resist  some  myste- 
rious, gloomy  power,  that  compelled  her  to  minutely  re- 
call everything  that  had  resulted  differently  from  her 
expectations. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

After  the  musician  had  left  the  burgomaster's 
house,  he  went  to  young  Herr  Matanesse  Van  Wibisma's 
aunt  to  get  his  cloak,  which  had  not  been  returned  to 
him.  He  did  not  usually  give  much  heed  to  his  dress, 
yet  he  was  glad  that  the  rain  kept  people  in  the  house, 
for  the  outgrown  wrap  on  his  shoulders  was  by  no  means 
pleasing  in  appearance.  Wilhelm  must  certainly  have 
looked  anything  but  well-clad,  for  as  he  stood  in  old 
Fraulein  Van  Hoogstraten's  spacious,  stately  hall,  the 
steward  Belotti  received  him  as  patronizingly  as  if  he 
were  a  beggar. 

But  the  Neopohtan,  in  whose  mouth  the  vigorous 
Dutch  sounded  like  the  ratding  in  the  throat  of  a  chilled 
singer,  speedily  took  a  different  tone  when  Wilhelm,  in 
excellent  Italian,  quietly  explained  the  object  of  his 
visit.  Nay,  at  the  sweet  accents  of  his  native  tongue, 
the  servant's  repellent  demeanor  melted  into  friendly, 
eager  welcome.  He  was  beginning  to  speak  of  his 
home  to  Wilhelm,  but  the  musician  made  him  curt  replies 
and  asked  him  to  get  his  cloak. 


*]6  THE    burgomaster's    WIFE. 

Belotti  now  led  him  courteously  into  a  small  room 
at  the  side  of  the  great  hall,  took  off  his  cloak,  and  then 
went  upstairs.  As  minute  after  minute  passed,  until  at 
last  a  whole  quarter  of  an  hour  elapsed,  and  neither 
servant  nor  cloak  appeared,  the  young  man  lost  his 
patience,  though  it  was  not  easily  disturbed,  and  when  the 
door  at  last  opened  serious  peril  threatened  the  leaden 
panes  on  which  he  was  drumming  loudly  with  his 
fingers.  Wilhelm  doubtless  heard  it,  yet  he  drummed 
with  redoubled  vehemence,  to  show  the  Italian  that  the 
time  was  growing  long  to  him.  But  he  hastily  with- 
drew his  fingers  from  the  glass,  for  a  girl's  musical  voice 
said  behind  him  in  excellent  Dutch : 

"  Have  you  finished  your  war-song,  sir  ?  Belotti  is 
bringing  your  cloak." 

Wilhelm  had  turned  and  was  gazing  in  silent  bewil- 
derment into  the  face  of  the  young  noblewoman,  who 
stood  directly  in  front  of  him.  These  features  were  not 
unfamiliar,  and  yet — years  do  not  make  even  a  goddess 
younger,  and  mortals  increase  in  height  and  don't  grow 
smaller;  but  the  lady  whom  he  thought  he  saw  before 
him,  whom  he  had  known  well  in  the  eternal  city  and 
never  forgotten,  had  been  older  and  taller  than  the 
young  girl,  who  so  strikingly  resembled  her  and  seemed 
to  take  little  pleasure  in  the  young  man's  surprised  yet 
inquiring  glance.  With  a  haughty  gesture  she  beckoned 
to  the  steward,  saying  in  Italian : 

"  Give  the  gentleman  his  cloak,  Belotti,  and  tell  him 
I  came  to  beg  him  to  pardon  your  forgetfulness." 

With  these  words  Henrica  Van  Hoogstraten  turned 
towards  the  door,  but  Wilhelm  took  two  hasty  strides 
after  her,  exclaiming : 

^'  Not  yet,  not  yet,  Fraulein  !  I  am  the  one  to  apolo- 


r 


THE    BURGOMASTER  S    WIFE.  77 


gize.  But  if  you  have  ever  been  amazed  by  a  resem- 
blance— " 

''  Anything  but  looking  like  other  people ! "  cried  the 
girl  with  a  repellent  gesture. 

"Ah,  Fraulein,  yet — " 

"  Let  that  pass,  let  that  pass,"  interrupted  Henrica 
in  so  irritated  a  tone  that  the  musician  looked  at  her  in 
surprise.  "  One  sheep  looks  just  like  another,  and 
among  a  hundred  peasants  twenty  have  the  same  face. 
All  wares  sold  by  the  dozen  are  cheap." 

As  soon  as  Wilhelm  heard  reasons  given,  the  quiet 
manner  peculiar  to  him  returned,  and  he  answered 
modestly : 

"  But  nature  also  forms  the  most  beautiful  things  in 
pairs.     Think  of  the  eyes  in  the  Madonna's  face." 

'^  Are  you  a  Catholic  ?" 

"  A  Galvinist,  Fraulein." 

"  And  devoted  to  the  Prince's  cause  ?" 

"  Say  rather,  the  cause  of  liberty." 

"  That  accounts  for  the  drumming  of  the  war-song.'* 

"  It  was  first  a  gentle  gavotte,  but  impatience  quick- 
ened the  time.     I  am  a  musician,  Fraulein." 

"  But  probably  no  drummer.     The  poor  panes !" 

"They  are  an  instrument  like  any  other,  and  in 
playing  we  seek  to  express  what  we  feel." 

"  Then  accept  my  thanks  for  not  breaking  them  to 
pieces." 

"  That  wouldn't  have  been  beautiful,  Fraulein,  and 
art  ceases  when  ugliness  begins." 

"  Do  you  think  the  song  in  your  cloak — it  dropped 
on  the  ground  and  Nico  picked  it  up — beautiful  or 
ugly?"  ^ 

"  This  one  or  the  other  ?" 


78  THE    burgomaster's    WIFE. 

"  I  mean  the  Beggar-song." 

"It  is  fierce,  but  no  more  ugly  than  the  roaring  of 
the  storm." 

"  It  is  repulsive,  barbarous,  revolting." 

"  I  call  it  strong,  overmastering  in  its  power.'* 

"  And  this  other  melody  ?" 

"  Spare  me  an  answer;  I  composed  it  myself.  Can 
you  read  notes,  Fraulein  ?" 

"  A  little." 

"  And  did  my  attempt  displease  you  ?" 

"  Not  at  all,  but  I  find  dolorous  passages  in  this 
choral,  as  in  all  the  Calvinist  hymns." 

"  It  depends  upon  how  they  are  sung." 

"  They  are  certainly  intended  for  the  voices  of  the 
shopkeepers'  wives  and  washerwomen  in  your  churches." 

"  Every  hymn,  if  it  is  only  sincerely  felt,  will  lend 
wings  to  the  souls  of  the  simple  folk  who  sing  it;  and 
whatever  ascends  to  Heaven  from  the  inmost  depths  of 
the  heart,  can  hardly  displease  the  dear  God,  to  whom  it 
is  addressed.     And  then — " 

"Well?" 

"  If  these  notes  are  worth  being  preserved,  it  may 
happen  that  a  matchless  choir — " 

"  Will  sing  them  to  you,  you  think  ?" 

"  No,  Fraulein ;  they  have  fulfilled  their  destination 
if  they  are  once  nobly  rendered.  I  would  fain  not  be 
absent,  but  that  wish  is  far  less  earnest  than  the  other." 

"  How  modest ! " 

"  I  think  the  best  enjoyment  in  creating  is  had  m 
anticipation." 

Henrica  gazed  at  the  artist  with  a  look  of  sympathy, 
and  said  with  a  softer  tone  in  her  musical  voice  : 

"  I  am  sorry  for  you,  Meister.     Your  music  pleases 


THE    burgomaster's    WIFE.  79 

me ;  why  should  I  deny  it  ?  In  many  passages  it  appeals 
to  the  heart,  but  how  it  will  be  spoiled  in  your  churches ! 
Your  heresy  destroys  every  art.  The  works  of  the  great 
artists  are  a  horror  to  you,  and  the  noble  music  that  has 
unfolded  here  in  the  Netherlands  will  soon  fare  no 
better." 

"  I  think  I  may  venture  to  believe  the  contrary." 

*'  Wrongly,  Meister,  wrongly,  for  if  your  cause 
tnumphs,  which  may  the  Virgin  forbid,  there  will  soon 
be  nothing  in  Holland  except  piles  of  goods,  workshops, 
and  bare  churches,  from  which  even  singing  and  organ- 
playing  will  soon  be  banished." 

''  By  no  means,  Fraulein.  Little  Athens  first  be- 
came the  home  of  the  arts,  after  she  had  secured  her 
liberty  in  the  war  against  the  Persians." 

''  Athens  and  Ley  den  ! "  she  answered  scornfully. 
"  True,  there  are  owls  on  the  tower  of  Pancratius.  But 
where  shall  we  find  the  Minerva  ?  " 

While  Henrica  rather  laughed  than  spoke  these 
words,  her  name  was  called  for  the  third  time  by  a 
shrill  female  voice.  She  now  interrupted  herself  in  the 
middle  of  a  sentence,  saying : 

"  I  must  go.     I  will  keep  these  notes." 

"  You  will  honor  me  by  accepting  them ;  perhaps 
you  will  allow  me  to  bring  you  others." 

"  Henrica!"  the  voice  again  called  from  the  stairs, 
and  the  young  lady  answered  hastily : 

"  Give  Belotti  whatever  you  choose,  but  soon,  for  I 
shan't  stay  here  much  longer." 

Wilhelm  gazed  after  her.  She  walked  no  less  quickly 
and  firmly  through  the  wide  hall  and  up  the  stairs,  than 
she  had  spoken,  and  again  he  was  vividly  reminded  of 
his  friend  in  Rome. 


So  THE    burgomaster's    WIFE.  i 

The  old  Italian  had  also  followed  Henrica  with  his  ] 
eyes.  As  she  vanished  at  the  last  bend  of  the  broad  ] 
steps,  he  shrugged  his  shoulders,  turned  to  the  musician  '] 
and  said,  with  an  expression  of  honest  sympathy :  \ 

*^  The  young  lady  isn't  well.  Always  in  a  tumult ;  • 
always  like  a  loaded  pistol,  and  these  terrible  headaches  ' 
too  !     She  was  different  when  she  came  here."  ; 

"  Is  she  ill  ?"  i 

"  My  mistress  won't  see  it,"  replied  the  servant,  i 
"  But  what  the  cameriera  and  I  see,  we  see.  Now  red  \ 
— now  pale,  no  rest  at  night,  at  table  she  scarcely  eats  a  \ 
chicken-wing  and  a  leaf  of  salad."  j 

"  Does  the  doctor  share  your  anxiety  ?"  j 

"  The  doctor  ?  Doctor  Fleuriel  isn't  here.  He  ' 
moved  to  Ghent  when  the  Spaniards  came,  and  since  | 
then  my  mistress  will  have  nobody  but  the  barber  who  I 
bleeds  her.  The  doctors  here  are  devoted  to  the  Prince  • 
of  Orange  and  are  all  heretics.  There,  she  is  calling  \ 
again.  I'll  send  the  cloak  to  your  house,  and  if  you  ever  i 
feel  inclined  to  speak  my  language,  just  knock  here.  ; 
That  calling — that  everlasting  calling  !  The  young  lady  ; 
suffers  from  it  too."  | 

When  Wilhelm  entered  the  street,  it  was  only  rain-  j 
ing  very  slightly.  The  clouds  were  beginning  to  scatter,  | 
and  from  a  patch  of  blue  sky  the  sun  was  shining  ■ 
brighdy  down  on  Nobelstrasse.  A  rainbow  shimmered  t 
in  variegated  hues  above  the  roofs,  but  to-day  the  musi-  ^ 
cian  had  no  eyes  for  the  beautiful  spectacle.  The  bright ) 
light  in  the  wet  street  did  not  charm  him.  The  hot  I 
rays  of  the  day-star  were  not  lasting,  for  ''  they  drew  ] 
rain."  All  that  surrounded  him  seemed  confused  ^ 
and  restless.  Beside  a  beautiful  image  which  he  I 
treasured  in  the  sanctuary  of  his  memories,  only  allow- 1 


THE    burgomaster's    WIFE.  8l 

ing  his  mind  to  dwell  upon  it  in  his  happiest  hours, 
sought  to  intrude.  His  real  diamond  was  in  danger  of 
being  exchanged  for  a  stone,  whose  value  he  did  not 
know.  With  the  old,  pure  harmony  blended  another 
similar  one,  but  in  a  different  key.  How  could  he  still 
think  of  Isabella,  without  remembering  Henrica !  At 
least  he  had  not  heard  the  young  lady  sing,  so  his 
recollection  of  Isabella's  songs  remained  unclouded. 
He  blamed  himself  because,  obeying  an  emotion  of 
vanity,  he  had  promised  to  send  new  songs  to  the  proud 
young  girl,  the  friend  of  Spain.  He  had  treated  Herr 
Matanesse  Van  Wibisma  rudely  on  account  of  his 
opinions,  but  sought  to  approach  her,  who  laughed  at 
what  he  prized  most  highly,  because  she  was  a  woman, 
and  it  was  sweet  to  hear  his  work  praised  by  beautiful 
lips.  **  Hercules  throws  the  club  aside  and  sits  down  at 
the  distaff,  when  Omphale  beckons,  and  the  beautiful 
Esther  and  the  daughter  of  Herodias  — "  murmured 
Wilhelm  indignantly.  He  felt  sorely  troubled,  and 
longed  for  his  quiet  attic  chamber  beside  the  dove-cote. 

"  Something  unpleasant  has  happened  to  him  in 
Delft,"  thought  his  father. 

"  Why  doesn't  he  relish  his  fried  flounders  to-day  ?  '* 
asked  his  mother,  when  he  had  left  them  after  dinner. 
Each  felt  that  something  oppressed  the  pride  and 
favorite  of  the  household,  but  did  not  attempt  to  dis- 
cover the  cause;  they  knew  the  moods  to  which  he  was 
sometimes  subject  for  half  a  day. 

After  Wilhelm  had  fed  his  doves,  he  went  to  his 
room,  where  he  paced  resdessly  to  and  fro.  Then  he 
seized  his  violin  and  wove  all  the  melodies  he  had 
heard  from  Isabella's  lips  into  one.  His  music  had 
rarely  sounded  so  soft,  and  then  so  fierce  and  passionate, 


82  THE    burgomaster's    WIFE. 

and  his  mother,  who  heard  it  in  the  kitchen,  turned  the 
twirHng-stick  faster  and  faster,  then  thrust  it  into  the 
firmly-tied  dough,  and  rubbing  her  hands  on  her 
apron,  murmured : 

"  How  it  wails  and  exults !  If  it  relieves  his  heart, 
in  God's  name  let  him  do  it,  but  cat-gut  is  dear  and  it 
will  cost  at  least  two  strings." 

Towards  evening  Wilhelm  was  obliged  to  go  to  the 
drill  of  the  military  corps  to  which  he  belonged.  His 
company  was  ordered  to  mount  guard  at  the  Hooge- 
woort  Gate.  As  he  marched  through  Nobelstrasse  with 
it,  he  heard  the  low,  clear  melody  of  a  woman's  voice 
issuing  from  an  open  window  of  the  Hoogstraten  man- 
sion. He  listened,  and  noticing  with  a  shudder  how 
much  Henrica's  voice  —  for  the  singer  must  be  the 
young  lady  —  resembled  Isabella's,  ordered  the  drum- 
mer to  beat  the  drum. 

The  next  morning  a  servant  came  from  the  Hoog- 
straten house  and  gave  Wilhelm  a  note,  in  which  he  was 
briefly  requested  to  come  to  Nobelstrasse  at  two  o'clock 
in  the  afternoon,  neither  earlier  nor  later. 

He  did  not  wish  to  say  "  yes  " — he  could  not  say 
*'  no,"  and  went  to  the  house  at  the  appointed  hour. 

Henrica  was  awaiting  him  in  the  little  room  adjoin- 
ing the  hall.  She  looked  graver  than  the  day  before, 
while  heavier  shadows  under  her  eyes  and  the  deep 
flush  on  her  cheeks  reminded  Wilhelm  of  Belotti's  fears 
for  her  health.  After  returning  his  greeting,  she  said 
without  circumlocution,  and  very  rapidly : 

''  I  must  speak  to  you.  Sit  down.  To  be  brief,  the 
way  you  greeted  me  yesterday  awakened  strange 
thoughts.  I  must  strongly  resemble  some  other  woman, 
and  you  met  her  in  Italy.     Perhaps  you  are  reminded  of 


THE    burgomaster's    WIFE.  S^ 

some  one  very  near  to  me,  of  whom  I  have  lost  all  trace. 
Answer  me  honestly,  for  I  do  not  ask  from  idle  curiosity. 
Where  did  you  meet  her  ?" 

"  In  Lugano.  We  drove  to  Milan  with  the  same 
vetturino,  and  afterwards  I  found  her  again  in  Rome 
and  saw  her  daily  for  months." 

''  Then  you  know  her  intimately.  Do  you  still 
think  the  resemblance  surprising,  after  having  seen  me 
for  the  second  time  ?" 

*'  Very  surprising." 

"  Then  I  must  have  a  double.  Is  she  a  native  of 
this  country  ?" 

"  She  called  herself  an  Italian,  but  she  understood 
Dutch,  for  she  has  often  turned  the  pages  of  my  books 
and  followed  the  conversation  I  had  with  young  artists 
from  our  home.  I  think  she  is  a  German  lady  of  noble 
family," 

^'An  adventuress  then.     And  her  name  .^" 

"  Isabella — but  I  think  no  one  would  be  justified  in 
calling  her  an  adventuress." 

"  Was  she  married  ?  " 

'^  There  was  something  matronly  in  her  majestic 
appearance,  yet  she  never  spoke  of  a  husband.  The  old 
Italian  woman,  her  duenna,  always  called  her  Donna 
Isabella,  but  she  possessed  Httle  more  knowledge  of  her 
past  than  I." 

"  Is  that  good  or  evil  ?  " 

"  Nothing  at  all,  Fraulein." 

"  And  what  led  her  to  Rome  ?  " 

"  She  practised  the  art  of  singing,  of  which  she  was 
mistress ;  but  did  not  cease  studying,  and  made  great 
progress  in  Rome.  I  was  permitted  to  instruct  her  in 
counterpoint." 

6  * 


84  THE    burgomaster's    WIFE. 

**  And  did  she  appear  in  public  as  a  singer?" 

"  Yes  and  no.  A  distinguished  foreign  prelate  was 
her  patron,  and  his  recommendation  opened  every  door, 
even  the  Palestrina's.  So  the  church  music  at  aristo- 
cratic weddings  was  entrusted  to  her,  and  she  did  not 
refuse  to  sing  at  noble  houses,  but  never  appeared  for 
pay.  I  know  that,  for  she  would  not  allow  any  one 
else  to  play  her  accompaniments.  She  liked  my  music, 
and  so  through  her  I  went  into  many  aristocratic 
houses." 

"Was  she  rich?" 

"  No,  Fraolein.  She  had  beautiful  dresses  and  bril- 
liant jewels,  but  was  compelled  to  economize.  Remit- 
tances of  money  came  to  her  at  times  from  Florence, 
but  the  gold  pieces  slipped  quickly  through  her  fingers, 
for  though  she  lived  plainly  and  eat  scarcely  enough  for 
a  bird,  while  her  delicate  strength  required  stronger 
food,  she  was  lavish  to  imprudence  if  she  saw  poor 
artists  in  want,  and  she  knew  most  of  them,  for  she  did 
not  shrink  from  sitting  with  them  over  their  wine  in  my 
companyo" 

"With  artists  and  musicians  ?" 

"  Mere  artists  of  noble  sentiments.  At  times  she 
surpassed  them  all  in  her  overflowing  mirth." 

"  At  times  ?  " 

"Yes,  only  at  times,  for  she  had  also  sorrowful, 
pitiably  sorrowful  hours  and  days,  but  as  sunshine  and 
shower  alternate  in  an  April  day,  despair  and  extrava- 
gant gayety  ruled  her  nature  by  turns." 

"  A  strange  character.     Do  you  know  her  end  ?" 

"No,  Fraulein.  One  evening  she  received  a  letter 
from  Milan,  which  must  have  contained  bad  news,  and 
the  next  day  vanished  without  any  farewell." 


THE    burgomaster's  .WIFE.  85 

"  And  you  did  not  try  to  follow  her  ?  '* 

Wilhelm  blushed,  and  answered  in  an  embarrassed 
tone: 

"  I  had  no  right  to  do  so,  and  just  after  her  de- 
parture I  fell  sick — dangerously  sick." 

"  You  loved  her  ?  " 

"  Fraulein,  I  must  beg  you  — " 

*'  You  loved  her !  And  did  she  return  your  affec- 
tion?" 

^'  We  have  known  each  other  only  since  yesterday, 
Fraulein  von  Hoogstraten." 

"  Pardon  me !  But  if  you  value  my  desire,  we  shall 
not  have  seen  each  other  for  the  last  time,  though  my 
double  is  undoubtedly  a  different  person  from  the  one  I 
supposed.  Farewell  till  we  meet  again.  You  hear,  that 
calling  never  ends.  You  have  aroused  an  interest  in 
your  strange  friend,  and  some  other  time  must  tell  me 
more  about  her.  Only  this  one  question  :  Can  a  mod- 
est maiden  talk  of  her  with  you  without  disgrace  ?  " 

"  Certainly,  if  you  do  not  shrink  from  speaking  of  a 
noble  lady  who  had  no  other  protector  than  herself" 

"  And  you,  don't  forget  yourself! "  cried  Henrica, 
leaving  the  room. 

The  musician  walked  thoughtfully  towards  home. 
Was  Isabella  a  relative  of  this  young  girl  ?  He  had 
told  Henrica  almost  all  he  knew  of  her  external  circum- 
stances, and  this  perhaps  gave  the  former  the  same  right 
to  call  he^  an  adventuress,  that  many  in  Rome  had 
assumed.  The  word  wounded  him,  and  Henrica's 
inquiry  whether  he  loved  the  stranger  disturbed  him, 
and  appeared  intrusive  and  unseemly.  Yes,  he  had  felt 
an  ardent  love  for  her ;  ay,  he  had  suffered  deeply  be- 
cause he  was  no  more  to  her  than  a  pleasant  companion 


S6  THE  b-urgomaster's  wife. 

and  reliable  friend.  It  had  cost  him  struggles  enough 
to  conceal  his  feelings,  and  he  knew,  that  but  for  the 
dread  of  repulse  and  scorn,  he  would  have  yielded  and 
revealed  them  to  her.  Old  wounds  in  his  heart  opened 
afresh,  as  he  recalled  the  time  she  suddenly  left  Rome 
without  a  word  of  farewell.  After  barely  recovering  from 
a  severe  illness,  he  had  returned  home  pale  and  dispirited, 
and  months  elapsed  ere  he  could  again  find  genuine 
pleasure  in  his  art.  At  first,  the  remembrance  of  her 
contained  nothing  save  bitterness,  but  now,  by  quiet,, 
persistent  effort,  he  had  succeeded,  not  in  attaining  for- 
getfulness,  but  in  being  able  to  separate  painful  emo- 
tions from  the  pure  and  exquisite  joy  of  remembering 
her.  To-day  the  old  struggle  sought  to  begin  afresh, 
but  he  was  not  disposed  to  yield,  and  did  not  cease  to 
summon  Isabella's  image,  in  all  its  beauty,  before  his 
soul. 

Henrica  returned  to  her  aunt  in  a  deeply-agitated 
mood.  Was  the  adventuress  of  whom  Wilhelm  had 
spoken,  the  only  creature  whom  she  loved  with  all  the 
ardor  of  her  passionate  soul  ?  Was  Isabella  her  lost  sis- 
ter ?  Many  incidents  were  opposed  to  it,  yet  it  was  pos- 
sible. She  tortured  herself  with  questions,  and  the  less 
peace  her  aunt  gave  her,  the  more  unendurable  her  head- 
ache became,  the  more  plainly  she  felt  that  the  fever^ 
against  whose  relaxing  power  she  had  struggled  for  days, 
would  conquer  her. 


THE    burgomaster's    WIFE.  87 


CHAPTER  IX. 

On  the  evening  of  the  third  day  after  Wilhelm's  in- 
terview with  Henrica,  his  way  led  him  through  Nobel- 
strasse  past  the  Hoogstraten  mansion. 

Ere  reaching  it,  he  saw  two  gentlemen,  preceded  by 
a  servant  carrying  a  lantern,  cross  the  causeway  towards 
it. 

Wilhelm's  attention  was  attracted.  The  servant  now 
seized  the  knocker,  and  the  light  of  his  lantern  fell  on 
the  men's  faces.     Neither  was  unfamiliar  to  him. 

The  small,  delicate  old  man,  with  the  peaked  hat 
and  short  black  velvet  cloak,  was  Abbe  Picard,  a  gay 
Parisian,  who  had  come  to  Ley  den  ten  years  before  and 
gave  French  lessons  in  the  wealthy  families  of  the  city. 
He  had  been  Wilhelm's  teacher  too,  but  the  musician's 
father,  the  Receiver-General,  would  have  nothing  to  do 
with  the  witty  abbe ;  for  he  was  said  to  have  left  his 
beloved  France  on  account  of  some  questionable  trans- 
actions, and  Herr  Cornelius  scented  in  him  a  Spanish 
spy.  The  other  gentleman,  a  grey-haired,  unusually  stout 
man,  of  middle  height,  who  required  a  great  deal  of 
cloth  for  his  fur-bordered  cloak,  was  Signor  Lamperi,  the 
representative  of  the  great  Italian  mercantile  liouse  of 
Bonvisi  in  Antwerp,  who  was  in  tlie  habit  of  annually 
coming  to  Leyden  on  business  for  a  few  weeks  with  the 
storks  and  swallows,  and  was  a  welcome  guest  in  every 
tap-room  as  the  inexhaustible  narrator  of  funny  stories, 
ELefore  these  two  men  entered  the  house,  they  were 
joined  by  a  third,  preceded  by  two  servants  carrying  Ian- 


88  THE  burgomaster's  wife. 

terns.  A  wide  cloak  enveloped  his  tall  figure ;  he  too 
stood  on  the  threshold  of  old  age  and  was  no  stranger 
'to  Wilhelm,  for  the  Catholic  Monseigneur  Gloria,  who 
often  came  to  Leyden  from  Haarlem,  was  a  patron  of 
the  noble  art  of  music,  and  when  the  young  man  set  out 
on  his  journey  to  Italy  had  provided  him,  spite  of  his 
heretical  faith,  with  valuable  letters  of  introduction. 

Wilhelm,  as  the  door  closed  behind  the  three  gentle- 
men, continued  his  way.  Belotti  had  told  him  the  day 
before  that  the  young  lady  seemed  very  ill,  but  since 
her  aunt  was  receiving  guests,  Henrica  was  doubtless 
better. 

The  first  story  in  the  Hoogstraten  mansion  was 
brightly  lighted,  but  in  the  second  a  faint,  steady  glow 
streamed  into  Nobelstrasse  from  a  single  window,  while 
she  for  whom  the  lamp  burned  sat  beside  a  table,  her 
eyes  sparkling  with  a  feverish  glitter,  as  she  pressed  her 
forehead  against  the  marble  top.  Henrica  was  entirely 
alone  in  the  wide,  lofty  room  her  aunt  had  assigned  her. 
Behind  curtains  of  thick  faded  brocade  was  her  bedstead, 
a  heavy  structure  of  enormous  width.  The  other  articles 
of  furniture  were  large  and  shabby,  but  had  once  been 
splendid.  Every  chair,  every  table  looked  as  if  it  had 
been  taken  from  some  deserted  banqueting-hall.  Nothing 
really  necessary  was  lacking  in  the  apartment,  but  it  was 
anything  but  home-like  and  cosey,  and  no  one  would  ever 
have  supposed  a  young  girl  occupied  it,  had  it  not  been 
for  a  large  gilt  harp  that  leaned  against  the  long,  hard 
couch  beside  the  fireplace. 

Henrica's  head  was  burning  but,  though  she  had 
wrapped  a  shawl  around  her  lower  limbs,  her  feet  were 
freezing  on  the  uncarpeted  stone  floor. 

A  short  time  after  the  three  gentlemen  had  entered 


THE    burgomaster's   Ji^fFiTirpp^^^,     89 

her  aunt's  house,  a  woman's  figure,  ascCndfed.  flie ,  st^Slr^?Sv^ 
leading  from  the  first  to  the  second  story.       Henrica's 


approaching  form  had  reached  the  room7  *-^ij9"  T^^th 
quickened  breathing,  she  sat  erect.  -     ^     ; 

A  thin  hand,  without  any  preHminary  knock,  now 
opened  the  door  and  old  Fraulein  Van  Hoogstraten 
walked  up  to  her  niece. 

The  elderly  dame  had  once  been  beautiful,  now  and 
at  this  hour  she  presented  a  strange,  unpleasing  appear- 
ance. 

The  thin,  bent  figure  was  attired  in  a  long  trailing 
robe  of  heavy  pink  silk.  The  little  head  almost  disap- 
peared in  the  ruff,  a  large  structure  of  immense  height 
and  width.  Long  chains  of  pearls  and  glittering  gems 
hung  on  the  sallow  skin  displayed  by  the  open  neck  of  her 
dress,  and  on  the  false,  reddish-yellow  curls  rested  a  roll 
of  light-blue  velvet  decked  with  ostrich  plumes.  A  strong 
odor  of  various  fragrant  essences  preceded  her.  She 
herself  probably  found  them  somewhat  overpowering, 
for  her  large  glittering  fan  was  in  constant  motion  and 
fluttered  violently,  when  in  answer  to  her  curt :  "  Quick, 
quick,"  Henrica  returned  a  resolute  "  no,  ma  tanteT 

The  old  lady,  however,  was  not  at  all  disconcerted 
by  the  refusal,  but  merely  repeated  her  "  Quick,  quick," 
more  positively,  adding  as  an  important  reason  : 

"  Monseigneur  has  come  and  wants  to  hear  you." 

"  He  does  me  great  honor,"  replied  the  young  girl, 
**  great  honor,  but  how  often  must  I  repeat :  1  will  not 
come." 

"  Is  it  allowable  to  ask  why  not,  my  fair  one?"  said 
the  old  lady. 


9©  THE    BURGOMASTERS    WIFE. 

"•  Because  I  am  not  fit  for  your  society,"  cried  Hen- 
rica  vehemently,  *'  because  my  head  aches  and  my  eyes 
burn,  because  I  can't  sing  to-day,  and  because — because 
— because — I  entreat  you,  leave  me  in  peace." 

Old  Fraulein  Van  Hoogstraten  let  her  fan  sink  by 
her  side,  and  said  coolly : 

•'Were  you  singing  two  hours  ago — yes  or  no  ?" 

-Yes." 

'*  Then  your  headache  can't  be  so  very  bad,  and 
Denise  will  dress  you." 

"If  she  comes,  I'll  send  her  away.      When  I  just 
took  the  harp,  1  did  so  to  sing  the  pain  away.     It  was 
relieved  for  a  few  minutes,  but  now  my  temples  are  • 
throbbing  with  twofold  violence." 

"  Excuses." 

**  Believe  what  you  choose.    Besides  —  even  if  I  felt  : 
better  at  this  moment  than  a  squirrel  in  the  woods,  I 
wouldn't  go  down  to  see  the  gentlemen.     I  shall  stay 
here.     I  have  given  my  word,  and  I  am  a  Hoogstraten 
as  well  as  you." 

Henrica    had    risen,  and    her   eyes  flashed    with  a  \ 
gloomy  fire  at  her  oppressor.     The  old  lady  waved  her 
fan   faster,  and    her  projecting  chin    trembled.      Then 
she  said  curtly : 

"  Your  word  of  honor !  So  you  won't !  You  won't !  '^ 

"  Certainly  not,"  cried  the  young  girl  with  undutiful 
positiveness. 

"  Everybody  must  have  his  way,"  replied  the  old 
lady,  turning  towards  the  door.     "  What  is  too  wilful  is  ! 
too  wilful.     Your  father  won't  thank  you  for  this." 

With  these  words  Fraulein  Van  Hoogstraten  raised 
her  long  train  and  approached  the  door.  There  she 
paused,  and  again  glanced  enquiringly  at  Henrica.    The  : 


THE    burgomaster's    WIFE.  9! 

latter  doubtless  noticed  her  aunt's  hesitation,  but  with- 
out heeding  the  impHed  threat  intentionally  turned  her 
back. 

As  soon  as  the  door  closed,  the  young  girl  sank  back 
into  her  chair,  pressed  her  forehead  against  the  marble 
slab  and  let  it  remain  there  a  long  time.  Then  she  rose 
as  suddenly  and  hastily  as  if  obeying  some  urgent  sum- 
mons, raised  the  lid  of  her  trunk,  tossed  the  stockings^ 
bodices  and  shoes,  that  came  into  her  way,  out  on  the 
floor,  and  did  not  rise  until  she  had  found  a  few  sheets 
of  writing-paper  which  she  had  laid,  before  leaving  her 
father's  castle,  among  the  rest  of  her  property. 

As  she  rose  from  her  kneeling  posture,  she  was 
seized  with  giddiness,  but  still  kept  her  feet,  carried  to 
the  table  first  the  white  sheets  and  a  portfolio,  then  the 
large  inkstand  that  had  already  stood  several  days  in 
her  room,  and  seated  herself  beside  it. 

Leaning  far  back  in  her  chair,  she  began  to  write. 
The  book  that  served  as  a  desk  lay  on  her  knee,  the 
paper  on  the  book.  Creaking  and  pausing,  the  goose- 
quill  made  large,  stiff  letters  on  the  white  surface. 
Henrica  was  not  skilled  in  writing,  but  to-day  it  must 
have  been  unspeakably  difficult  for  her;  her  high  fore- 
head became  covered  with  perspiration,  her  mouth  was 
distorted  by  pain,  and  whenever  she  had  finished  a  few 
lines,  she  closed  her  eyes  or  drank  greedily  from  the 
water-pitcher  that  stood  beside  her. 

The  large  room  was  perfectly  still,  but  the  peace  that 
surrounded  her  was  often  disturbed  by  strange  noises, 
and  tones,  that  rose  from  the  dining-hall  direcdy  under 
her  chamber.  The  cHnking  of  glasses,  shrill  tittering, 
loud,  deep  laughter,  single  bars  of  a  dissolute  love-song, 
cheers,  and  then  the  sharp  rattle  of  a  shattered  wine- 


92  THE    burgomaster's    WIFE.  ^ 

i 

glass  reached  her  in  mingled  sounds.  She  did  not  wish  i 
to  hear  it,  but  could  not  escape  and  clenched  her  white  I 
teeth  indignantly.  Yet  meantime  the  pen  did  not  i 
wholly  stop.  i 

She  wrote  in  broken,  or  long,  disconnected  sentences,  \ 
almost  incoherently  involved.  Sometimes  there  were  ) 
gaps,  sometimes  the  same  word  was  twice  or  thrice  re-  \ 
peated.  The  whole  resembled  a  letter  written  by  a  j 
lunatic,  yet  every  line,  every  stroke  of  the  pen,  expressed  j 
the  same  desire  uttered  with  passionate  longing  :  "  Take  | 
me  away  from  here !  Take  me  away  from  this  woman  \ 
and  this  house !"  i 

The  epistle  was  addressed  to  her  father.      She  im- 
plored him  to  rescue  her  from  this  place,  come  or  send 
for  her.     ''  Her  uncle,   Matanesse  Van  Wibisma,"  she 
said,  "seemed  to  be   a  sluggish   messenger;    he  had  | 
probably  enjoyed  the  evenings  at  her  aunt's,  which  filled  \ 
her,  Henrica,  with  loathing.  She  would  go  out  into  the  | 
world  after  her  sister,  if  her  father  compelled  her  to  stay  { 
here."     Then  she  began  a  description  of  her  aunt  and  ■ 
her  life.       The  picture  of  the  days  and  nights  she  had  \ 
now  spent  for  weeks  with  the  old  lady,  presented  in  ^ 
vivid  characters  a  mixture  of  great  and  petty  troubles,  : 
external  and  mental  humiliations.  i 

Only  too  often  the  same  drinking  and  carousing  had  i 
gone  on  below  as  to-day — Henrica  had  always  been  | 
compelled  to  join  her  aunt's  guests,  elderly  dissolute  I 
men  of  French  or  Italian  origin  and  easy  morals,  j 
While  describing  these  conventicles,  the  blood  crimsoned  1 
her  flushed  cheeks  still  more  deeply,  and  the  long  strokes  .; 
of  the  pen  grew  heavier  and  heavier.  What  the  abbe  j 
related  and  her  aunt  laughed  at,  what  the  ItaHan  \ 
screamed  and  Monseigneur  smiUngly  condemned  with  j 


THE    burgomaster's    WIFE.  95 

a  slight  shake  of  the  head,  was  so  shamelessly  bold  that 
she  would  have  been  defiled  by  repeating  the  words. 

Was  she  a  respectable  girl  or  not?  She  would 
rather  hunger  and  thirst,  than  be  present  at  such  a  ban- 
quet again.  If  the  dining-room  was  empty,  other  unpre- 
cedented demands  were  made  upon  Henrica,  for  then 
her  aunt,  who  could  not  endure  to  be  alone  a  moment, 
was  sick  and  miserable,  and  she  was  obliged  to  nurse 
her.  That  she  gladly  and  readily  served  the  suffering, 
she  wrote,  she  had  sufficiently  proved  by  her  attendance 
on  the  village  children  when  they  had  the  small-pox, 
but  if  her  aunt  could  not  sleep  she  was  compelled  to 
watch  beside  her,  hold  her  hand,  and  listen  until  morn- 
ing as  she  moaned,  whined  and  prayed,  sometimes  curs- 
ing herself  and  sometimes  the  treacherous  world.  She, 
Henrica,  had  come  to  the  house  strong  and  well,  but 
so  much  disgust  and  anger,  such  constant  struggling  to 
control  herself  had  robbed  her  of  her  health. 

The  young  girl  had  written  until  midnight.  The 
letters  became  more  and  more  irregular  and  indistinct, 
the  Hnes  more  crooked,  and  with  the  last  words :  "  My 
head,  my  poor  head !  You  will  see  that  I  am  losing  my 
senses.  I  beseech  you,  I  beseech  you,  my  dear,  stem 
father,  take  me  home.  I  have  again  heard  something 
about  Anna  — "  her  eyes  grew  dim,  her  pen  dropped 
from  her  hand,  and  she  fell  back  in  the  chair  uncon- 
scious. 

There  she  lay,  until  the  last  laugh  and  sound  of  rat- 
tling glass  had  died  away  below,  and  her  aunt's  guests 
had  left  the  house. 

Denise,  the  cameriera,  noticed  the  light  in  the  room, 
entered,  and  after  vainly  endeavoring  to  rouse  Henrica, 
called  her  mistress. 


94  THE    BURGOMASTER  S    WIFE.  '* 

i 

The  latter  followed  the  maid,  muttering  as  she  \ 
ascended  the  stairs  :  j 

'^  Fallen  asleep,  found  the  time  hang  heavy  — that's  • 
all !  She  might  have  been  lively  and  laughed  with  us  !  j 
Stupid  race !  '  Men  of  butter,'  King  Philip  says.  That  i 
wild  Lamperi  was  really  impertinent  to-night,  and  the  j 
abbe  said  things — things  —  "  | 

The  old  lady's  large  eyes  were  sparkling  vinously,  | 
and  her  fan  waved  rapidly  to  and  fro  to  cool  the  flush  ] 
on  her  cheeks.  i 

She  now  stood  opposite  to  Henrica,  called  her,  \ 
shook  her  and  sprinkled  her  with  perfumed  water  from  j 
the  large  shell,  set  in  gold,  which  hung  as  an  essence-  \ 
bottle  from  her  belt.  When  her  niece  only  muttered  i 
incoherent  words,  she  ordered  the  maid  to  bring  her  I 
medicine-chest.  ' 

Denise  had  gone  and  Fraulein  Van  Hoogstraten  ■ 
now  perceived  Henrica's  letter,  raised  it  close  to  her  \ 
eyes,  read  page  after  page  with  increasing  indignation,  ' 
and  at  last  tossed  it  on  the  floor  and  tried  to  shake  her  J 
niece  awake ;  but  in  vain.  .  J 

Meantime  Belotti  had  been  informed  of  Henrica's  ' 
serious  illness  and,  as  he  liked  the  young  girl,  sent  for  a  j 
physician  on  his  own  responsibility,  and  instead  of  the  ] 
family  priest  summoned  Father  Damianus.  Then  he  I 
went  to  the  sick  girl's  chamber.  ) 

Even  before  he  crossed  the  threshold,  the  old  lady  i 
in  the  utmost  excitement,  exclaimed :  ^ 

"  Belotti,  what  do  ydu  say  now,  Belotti  ?  Sickness  ; 
in  the  house,  perhaps  contagious  sickness,  perhaps  the  j 
plague."  I 

''It  seems  to  be  only  a  fever,"  replied  the  Ital-  ? 
ian    soothingly.     "  Come,    Denise,    we    will    carry    the  r 


J 


THK    BURGOMASTERS     WIFE.  95 

young  lady  to  the  bed.  The  doctor  will  soon  be 
here." 

''The  doctor?"  cried  the  old  lady,  striking  her  fan 
on  the  marble  top  of  the  table.  ''  Who  permitted  you, 
Belotti  —  " 

"We  are  Christians,"  interrupted  the  servant,  not 
without  dignity. 

"  Very  well,  very  well,"  she  cried.  "  Do  what  you 
please,  call  whom  you  choose,  but  Henrica  can't  stay 
here.  Contagion  in  the  house,  the  plague,  a  black 
tablet." 

"  Excellenza  is  disturbing  herself  unnecessarily.  Let 
us  first  hear  what  the  doctor  says." 

"  I  won't  hear  him ;  I  can't  bear  the  plague  and  the 
small-pox.  Go  down  at  once,  Belotti,  and  have  the 
sedan-chair  prepared.  The  old  chevalier's  room  in  the 
rear  building  is  empty." 

"  But,  Excellenza,  it's  gloomy,  and  so  dam[)  that 
the  north  wall  is  covered  with  mould." 

"  Then  let  it  be  aired  and  cleaned.  What  does  this 
delay  mean  ?  You  have  only  to  obey.  I^o  you  under- 
stand?" 

"  The  chevalier's  room  isn't  fit  for  my  mistress's  sick 
niece,"  replied  Belotti  civilly,  but  resolutely. 

"Isn't  it?  And  you  know  exactly?"  asked  his 
mistress  scornfully.  "  Go  down,  Denise,  and  order  the 
sedan-chair  to  be  brought  up.  Have  you  anything 
more  to  say,  Belotti  ?  " 

"  Yes,  Padrona,"  replied  the  Italian,  in  a  trembling 
voice.     "  1  beg  your  excellenza  to  dismiss  me." 

"  Dismiss  you  from  my  service  ?" 

"  With  your  excellenza's  permission,  yes — from  your 
service." 


C)6  THE    burgomaster's    WIFE. 

The  old  woman  started,  clasped  her  hands  tightly 
upon  her  fan,  and  said  : 

"  You  are  irritable,  Belotti." 

"  No,  Padrona,  but  I  am  old  and  dread  the  misfor- 
tune of  being  ill  in  this  house." 

Fraulein  Van  Hoogstraten  shrugged  her  shoulders 
and  turning  to  her  maid,  cried : 

"The  sedan-chair,  Denise.  You  are  dismissed, 
Belotti." 


CHAPTER  X.  j 

i 

The  night,  on  which  sorrow  and  sickness  had  entered  ; 

the  Hoogstraten  mansion,  was  followed  by  a  beautiful  i 

morning.    Holland  again  became  pleasant  to  the  storks,  ' 

that  with   a  loud,  joyous  clatter  flew  down  into   the  ; 

meadows  on  which  the  sun  was  shining.     It  was  one  of  ■ 

those  days  the  end  of  April  often  bestows  on  men,  as  if  to  1 
show  them  that  they  render  her  too  little, her  successor  too 

much  honor.     April  can  boast  that  in  her  house  is  born  ] 

the  spring,  whose  vigor  is  only  strengthened  and  beauty  ; 
developed  by  her  blooming  heir. 

It  was  Sunday,  and  whoever  on  such  a  day,  while  \ 
the  bells  are  ringing,  wanders  in  Holland  over  sunny 

paths,  through  flowery  meadows  where  countless  cattle,  I 

woolly    sheep,    and   idle  -horses    are    grazing,    meeting  \ 

peasants  in  neat  garments,  peasant  women  with  shining  i 

gold  ornaments  under  snow-white  lace  caps,  citizens  in  j 

gay  attire  and  children  released  from  school,  can  easily  i 

fancy  that  even  nature  wears  a  holiday  garb  and  glitters  - 


THE    BURGOMASTER  S    WIFE.  97 

in  brighter  green,  more  brilliant  blue,  and  more  varied 
ornaments  of  flowers  than  on  work-days. 

A  joyous  Sunday  mood  doubtless  filled  the  minds  of 
the  burghers,  who  to-day  were  out  of  doors  on  foot,  in 
large  over-crowded  wooden  wagons,  or  gaily-painted 
boats  on  the  Rhine,  to  enjoy  the  leisure  hours  of  the  day 
of  rest,  eat  country  bread,  yellow  butter,  and  fresh 
cheese,  or  drink  milk  and  cool  beer,  with  their  wives 
and  children. 

The  organist,  Wilhelm,  had  long  since  finished  play- 
ing in  the  church,  but  did  not  wander  out  into  the  fields 
with  companions  of  his  own  age,  for  he  liked  to  use  such 
days  for  longer  excursions,  in  which  walking  was  out  of 
the  question. 

They  bore  him  on  the  wings  of  the  wind  over  his 
native  plains,  through  the  mountains  and  valleys  of  Ger- 
many, across  the  Alps  to  Italy.  A  spot  propitious  for 
such  forgetfulness  of  the  present  and  his  daily  surround- 
ings, in  favor  of  the  past  and  a  distant  land,  was  ready. 
His  brothers,  Ulrich  and  Johannes,  also  musicians,  but 
who  recognized  Wilhelm's  superior  talent  without  envy 
and  helped  him  develop  it,  had  arranged  for  him,  during 
his  stay  in  Italy,  a  prettily-furnished  room  in  the  narrow 
side  of  the  pointed  roof  of  the  house,  from  which  a 
broad  door  led  to  a  little  balcony.  Here  stood  a  wooden 
bench  on  which  Wilhelm  liked  to  sit,  watching  the 
flight  of  his  doves,  gazing  dreamily  into  the  distance  or, 
when  inclined  to  artistic  creation,  listening  to  the  melo- 
dies that  echoed  in  his  soul. 

This  highest  part  of  the  house  aflbrded  a  beautiful 
prospect;  the  view  was  almost  as  extensive  as  the  one 
from  the  top  of  the  citadel,  the  old  Roman  tower 
situated  in  the  midst  of  Leyden.       Like  a  spider  in  its 


gS  THE    burgomaster's    WIFE. 

web,  Wilhelm's  native  city  lay  in  the  midst  of  countless 
streams  and  canals  that  intersected  the  meadows.  The 
red  brick  masonry  of  the  city  wall,  with  its  towers  and 
bastions,  washed  by  a  dark  strip  of  water,  encircled  the 
pretty  place  as  a  diadem  surrounds  a  young  girl's  head; 
and' like  a  chaplet  of  loosely-bound  thorns,  forts  and  re- 
doubts extended  in  wider,  frequently  broken  circles 
around  the  walls.  The  citizens'  herds  of  cattle  grazed  be- 
tween the  defensive  fortifications  and  the  city  wall,  while 
beside  and  beyond  them  appeared  villages  and  hamlets. 
On  this  clear  April  day,  looking  towards  the  north, 
Haarlem  lake  was  visible,  and  on  the  west,  beyond  the 
leafy  coronals  of  the  Hague  woods,  must  lie  the  downs 
which  nature  had  reared  for  the  protection  of  the  country 
against  the  assaults  of  the  waves.  Their  long  chain  of 
hillocks  offered  a  firmer  and  more  unconquerable  resist- 
ance to  the  pressure  of  the  sea,  than  the  earthworks  and 
redoubts  of  Alfen,  Leyderdorp  and  Valkenburg,  the 
three  forts  situated  close  to  the  banks  of  the  Rhine,  pre- 
sented to  hostile  armies.  The  Rhine  !  Wilhelm  gazed 
down  at  the  shallow,  sluggish  river,  and  compared  it  to 
a  king  deposed  from  his  throne,  who  has  lost  power  and 
splendor  and  now  kindly  endeavors  to  dispense  benefits 
in  little  circles  with  the  property  that  remains.  The 
musician  was  familiar  with  the  noble,  undivided  German 
Rhine;  and  often  followed  it  in  imagination  towards  the 
south  but  more  often  still  his  dreams  conveyed  him 
with  a  mighty  leap  to  Lake  Lugano,  the  pearl  of  the 
Western  Alps,  and  when  he  thought  of  it  and  the  Medi- 
terranean, beheld  rising  before  his  mental  vision  emerald 
green,  azure  blue,  and  golden  light;  and  in  such  hours 
all  his  thoughts  were  transformed  within  his  breast  into 
harmonies  and  exquisite  music. 


THE    burgomaster's    WIFE.  99 

And  his  journey  from  Lugano  to  Milan  !  The  con- 
veyance that  bore  him  to  Leonardo's  city  was  plain  and 
overcrowded,  but  in  it  he  had  found  Isabella.  And 
Rome,  Rome,  eternal,  never-to-be-forgotten  Rome, 
where  so  long  as  we  dwell  there,  we  grow  out  of  our- 
selves, increase  in  strength  and  intellectual  power,  and 
which  makes  us  wretched  with  longing  when  it  Hes 
behind  us. 

By  the  Tiber  Wilhelm  had  first  thoroughly  learned 
what  art,  his  glorious  art  was ;  here,  near  Isabella,  a 
new  world  had  opened  to  him,  but  a  sharp  frost  had 
passed  over  the  blossoms  of  his  heart  that  had  unfolded 
in  Rome,  and  he  knew  they  were  blighted  and  could 
bear  no  fruit  —  yet  to-day  he  succeeded  in  recalling  her 
in  her  youthful  beauty,  and  instead  of  the  lost  love, 
thinking  of  the  kind  friend  Isabella  and  dreaming  of  a 
sky  blue  as  turquoise,  of  slender  columns  and  bubbling, 
fountains,  olive  groves  and  marble  statues,  cool  churches 
and  gleaming  villas,  sparkling  eyes  and  fiery  wine,  mag- 
nificent choirs  and  Isabella's  singing. 

The  doves  that  cooed  and  clucked,  flew  away  and 
returned  to  the  cote  beside  him,  could  now  do  as  they 
chose,  their  guardian  neither  saw  nor  heard  them. 

Allertssohn,  the  fencing-master,  ascended  the  ladder 
to  his  watch-tower,  but  he  did  not  notice  him  until  he 
stood  on  the  balcony  by  his  side,  greeting  him  ^ith  his 
deep  voice. 

"Where  have  we  been,  Herr  Wilhelm?"  asked 
the  old  man.  "  In  this  cloth-weaving  Leyden  ?  No ! 
Probably  with  the  goddess  of  music  on  Olympus,  if  she 
has  her  abode  there." 

"  Rightly  guessed,"  replied  Wilhelm,  pushing  the 
hair  back  from  his   forehead   with   both   hands.      "  I 


lOO  THE    burgomaster's    WIFE. 

have  been  visiting  her,  and  she  sends  you  a  friendly 
greeting." 

"  Then  offer  one  from  me  in  return,"  replied  the 
other,  "  but  she  usually  belongs  to  the  least  familiar  of 
my  acquaintances.  My  throat  is  better  suited  to  drink- 
ing than  singing.     Will  you  allow  me  ?" 

The  fencing-master  raised  the  jug  of  beer  which 
Wilhelm's  mother  filled  freshly  every  day  and  placed  in 
her  darhng's  room,  and  took  a  long  pull.  Then  wiping 
his  moustache,  he  said : 

"  That  did  me  good,  and  I  needed  it.  The  men 
wanted  to  go  out  pleasuring  and  omit  their  drill,  but  we 
forced  them  to  go  through  it.  Junker  von  Warmond, 
Duivenvoorde  and  I.  Who  knows  how  soon  it  may 
be  necessary  to  show  what  we  can  do.  Roland,  my 
fore  man,  such  imprudence  is  like  a  cudgel,  against 
which  one  can  do  nothing  with  Florentine  rapiers,  clever 
tierce  and  quarte.   My  wheat  is  destroyed  by  the  hail." 

"  Then  let  it  lie,  and  see  if  the  barley  and  clover 
don't  do  better,"  replied  Wilhelm  gaily,  tossing  vetches 
and  grains  of  .wheat  to  a  large  dove  that  had  alighted 
on  the  parapet  of  his  tower. 

"  It  eats,  and  what  use  is  it  ? "  cried  Allertssohn, 
looking  at  the  dove.  '^  Herr  von  Warmond,  a  young 
man  after  God's  own  heart,  has  just  brought  me  two 
falcons;  do  you  want  to  see  how  I  tame  them  ?" 

"  No,  Captain,  I  have  enough  to  do  with  my  music 
and  my  doves." 

^'  That  is  your  affair.  The  long-necked  one  yonder 
is  a  queer-looking  fellow." 

"  And  of  what  country  is  he  probably  a  native  ? 
There  he  goes  to  join  the  others.  Watch  him  a  little 
while  and  then  answer  me." 


THE    burgomaster's    WIFE.  lOI 

'^  Ask  King  Soloman  that ;  he  was  on  intimate  terms 
with  birds." 

"  Only  watch  him,  you'll  find  out  presently.*' 

*^The  fellow  has  a  stiff  neck,  and  holds  his  head  un- 
usually high." 

*'  And  his  beak  ?" 

*^  Curved,  almost  like  a  hawk's !  Zounds,  why  does 
the  creature  strut  about  with  its  toes  so  far  apart  ? 
Stop,  bandit !  He'll  peck  that  litde  dove  to  death.  As 
true  as  I  live,  the  saucy  rascal  must  be  a  Spaniard !" 

"  Right,  it  is  a  Spanish  dove.  It  flew  to  me,  but  I 
can't  endure  it  and  drive  it  away ;  for  I  keep  only  a  few 
pairs  of  the  same  breed  and  try  to  get  the  best  birds  pos- 
sible. Whoever  raises  many  different  kinds  in  the 
same  cote,  will  accomplish  nothing." 

"  That  gives  food  for  thought.  But  I  believe  you 
haven't  chosen  the  handsomest  species." 

"  No,  sir.  What  you  see  are  a  cross  between  the 
carrier  and  tumblers,  the  Antwerp  breed  of  carrier- 
pigeons.  Bluish,  reddish,  spotted  birds.  I  don't  care 
for  the  colors,  but  they  must  have  small  bodies  and  large 
wings,  with  broad  quills  on  their  flag-feathers,  and 
above  all  ample  muscular  strength.  The  one  yonder — 
stop,  I'll  catch  him — is  one  of  my  best  flyers.  Try  to 
lift  his  pinions." 

"  Heaven  knows  the  little  thing  has  marrow  in  its 
bones!  How  the  tiny  wing  pinches;  the  falcons  are 
not  much  stronger." 

"  It's  a  carrier-dove  too,  that  finds  its  way  alone." 

"  Why  do  you  keep  no  white  tumblers  ?  I  should 
think  they  could  be  watched  farthest  in  their  flight." 

**  Because  doves  fare  like  men.  Whoever  shines 
very  brightly  and  is  seen  from  a  distance,  is  set  upon  by 


I02  THE    burgomaster's    WIFE. 

Opponents  and  envious  people,  and  birds  of  prey  pounce 
upon  the  white  doves  first.  I  tell  you,  Captain,  whoever 
has  eyes  in  his  head,  can  learn  in  a  dove-cote  how 
things  come  to  pass  among  Adam  and  Eve's  posterity 
on  earth." 

"There  is  quarrelling  and  kissing  up  here  just  as 
there  is  in  Leyden." 

"  Yes,  exactly  the  same,  Captain.  If  I  mate  an  old 
dove  with  one  much  younger,  it  rarely  turns  out  well. 
When  the  male  dove  is  in  love,  he  understands  how  to 
pay  his  fair  one  as  many  attentions,  as  the  most  elegant 
gallant  shows  the  mistress  of  his  heart.  And  do  you 
know  what  the  kissing  means  ?  The  suitor  feeds  his 
darling,  that  is,  seeks  to  win  her  affection  by  beautiful 
gifts.  Then  the  wedding  comes,  and  they  build  a  nest. 
If  there  are  young  birds,  they  feed  them  together  in  per- 
fect harmony.  The  aristocratic  doves  brood  badly,  and 
we  put  their  eggs  under  birds  of  more  ordinary  breed." 

"  Those  are  the  noble  ladies,  who  have  nurses  for 
their  infants." 

"  Unmated  doves  often  make  mischief  among  the 
mated  ones." 

"  Take  warning,  young  man,  and  beware  of  being  a 
bachelor.  I'll  say  nothing  against  the  girls  who  remain 
unmarried,  for  I  have  found  among  them  many  sweet, 
helpful  souls." 

"  So  have  I,  but  unfortunately  some  bad  ones  too, 
as  well  as  here  in  the  dove-cote.  On  the  whole  my 
wards  lead  happy  married  lives,  but  if  it  comes  to  a  sep- 
aration—  " 

"  Which  of  the  two  is  to  blame  ?  " 

*'  Nine  times  out  of  ten  the  little  wife." 

*'  Roland,   my  fore  man,  exactly   as   it   is   among 


THE    burgomaster's    WIFE.  103 

human  beings,"  cried  the  fencing-master,  clapping  his 
hands. 

"  What  do  you  mean  by  your  Roland,  Herr  Allerts  ? 
You  promised  me  a  short  time  agO: — but  who  is  coming 
up  the  ladder  ?  " 

"  I  hear  your  mother." 

"  She  is  bringing  me  a  visitor.  I  know  that  voice — 
and  yet.  Wait.  It's  old  Fraulein  Van  Hoogstraten's 
steward." 

"  From  Nobelstrasse  ?  Let  me  go,  Wilhelm,  for  this 
Clipper  crew — " 

"  Wait  a  little  while,  there  is  only  room  for  one  on 
the  ladder,"  said  the  musician,  holding  out  his  hand  to 
Belotti  to  guide  him  from  the  last  rung  into  his  room. 

"  Spaniards  and  the  allies  of  Spain,"  muttered  the 
fencing-master,  opened  the  door,  and  called  while  de- 
scending the  ladder :  "  I'll  wait  down  below  till  the  air 
is  pure  again." 

The  steward's  handsome  face,  usually  smoothly 
shaven  with  the  most  extreme  care,  was  to-day  covered 
with  a  stubbly  beard,  and  the  old  man  looked  sad  and 
worn,  as  he  began  to  tell  Wilhelm  what  had  occurred 
in  his  mistress's  house  since  the  evening  of  the  day 
before. 

*^  Years  may  make  a  hot-tempered  person  weaker, 
but  not  calmer,"  said  the  Italian,  continuing  his  story. 
"  I  can't  look  on  and  see  the  poor  angel,  for  she  isn't  far 
from  the  Virgin's  throne,  treated  like  a  sick  dog  that  is 
flung  out  into  the  court-yard,  so  I  got  my  discharge." 

"  That  does  you  honor,  but  was  rather  out  of  place 
just  now.  And  has  the  young  lady  really  been  carried 
to  the  damp  room  ?" 

"  No,  sir.    Father  Damianus  came  and  made  the  old 


I04  THE    BURGOMASTERS    WIFE. 

excellenza  understand  what4;he  holy  Virgin  expected  of  a  | 
Christian,  and  when  the  padrona  still  tried  to  carry  out  | 
her  will,  the  holy  man  spoke  to  her  in  words  so  harsh  \ 
and  stern  that  she  yielded.  The  signorina  is  now  lying  j 
in  bed  with  burning  cheeks,  raving  in  delirium."  \ 

"  And  who  is  attending  the  patient  ?"  \ 

*'  I  came  to  you  about  the  physician,  my  dear  sir,  for  ! 
Doctor  de  Bont,  who  instantly  obeyed  my  summons,  ■ 
was  treated  so  badly  by  the  old  excellenza,  that  he  i 
turned  his  back  upon  her  and  told  me,  at  the  door  of  i 
the  house,  he  wouldn't  come  again."  ! 

Wilhelm  shook  his  head,  and  the  Itahan  continued :  ! 

"  There  are  other  doctors  in  Leyden,  but  Father  | 
Damianus  says  de  Bont  or  Bontius,  as  they  call  him,  is  ; 
the  most  skilful  and  learned  of  them  all,  and  as  the  old  | 
excellenza  herself  had  an  attack  of  illness  about  noon,  | 
and  certainly  won't  leave  her  bed  very  speedily,  the  way  \ 
is  open,  and  Father  Damianus  says  he'll  go  to  Doctor  \ 
Bontius  himself  if  necessary.  But  as  you  are  a  native  ■ 
of  the  city  and  acquainted  with  the  signorina,  1  wanted  I 
to  spare  him  the  rebuff  he  wcjuld  probably  meet  from  the  - 
foe  of  our  holy  Church.  The  poor  man  has  enough  to  \ 
suffer  from  good-for-nothing  boys  and  scoffers,  when  he  \ 
goes  through  the  city  with  the  sacrament."  ! 

^'  You  know  -people  are  strictly  forbidden  to  disturb  ■ 
him  in  the  exercise  of  his  calling." 

^'  Yet  he  can't  show  himself  in  the  street  without 
being  jeered.      We  two  cannot  change  the  world,  sir.'** 
So  long  as  the  Church  had  the  upper  hand,  she  burned . 
and  quartered  you,  now  you  have  the  power  here,  our  * 
priests  are  persecuted  and  scorned."  ; 

"  Against  the  law  and  the  orders  of  the  magistrates."  I 

'*You  can't  control  the  people,  and  Father  Dami-j 


THE    burgomaster's    WIFE.  I05 

anus  is  a  lamb,  who  bears  everything  patiently,  as  good 
a  Christian  as  many  saints  before  whom  we  burn 
candles.     Do  you  know  the  doctor  ?" 

"  A  htde,  by  sight." 

"  Oh,  then  go  to  him,  sir,  for  the  young  lady's  sake," 
cried  the  old  man  earnesdy.  "  It  is  in  your  power  to  save 
a  human  life,  a  beautiful  young  life." 

The  steward's  eyes  glittered  with  tears.  As  Wil- 
helm  laid  his  hand  on  his  arm,  saying  kindly:  "I  will 
try,"  the  fencing-master  called:  "Your  council  is  lasting 
too  long  for  me.     I'll  come  another  time." 

"  No,  Meister,  come  up  a  minute.  This  gendeman 
is  here  on  account  of  a  poor  sick  girl.  The  poor,  help- 
less creature  is  now  lying  without  any  care,  for  her  aunt, 
old  Fraulein  Van  Hoogstraten,  has  driven  Doctor  de 
Bont  from  her  bed  because  he  is  a  Calvinist." 

"  From  the  sick  girl's  bed  ?" 

"  It's  abominable  enough,  but  the  old  lady  is  now 
ill  herself." 

*'  Bravo,  bravo  !  "  cried  the  fencing-master,  clapping 
his  hands.  "  If  the  devil  himself  isn't  afraid  of  her  and 
wants  to  fetch  her,  I'll  pay  for  his  post-horses.  But  the 
girl,  the  sick  girl  ?  " 

^'  Herr  Belotti  begs  me  to  persuade  de  Bont  to  visit 
her  again.    Are  you  on  friendly  terms  with  the  doctor?" 

''I  was,  Wilhelm,  I  was;  but — last  Friday  we  had 
some  sharp  words  about  the  new  morions,  and  now  the 
learned  demi-god  demands  an  Apology  from  me,  but  to 
sound  a  retreat  isn't  written  here — " 

"  Oh,  my  dear  sir,"  cried  Belotti,  with  touching  ear- 
nestness. "  The  poor  child  is  lying  helpless  in  a  raging 
fever.     If  Heaven  has  blessed  you  with  children  —  " 

"  Be  calm,  old  man,  be  calm,"  replied  the  fencing- 


I06  THE    burgomaster's    WIFE.  i 

master,  stroking  Belotti's  grey  hair  kindly.  My  children  '■_ 
are  nothing  to  you,  but  we'll  do  what  we  can  for  the ; 
young  girl.  Farewell  till  we  meet  again,  gentlemen,  i 
Roland,  my  fore  man,  what  shall  we  live  to  see !  Hemp  \ 
is  still  cheap  in  Holland,  and  yet  such  a  monster  has  J 
lived  amongst  us  to  be  as  old  as  a  raven."  i 

With  these  words  he  went  down  the  ladder.  On  ■■ 
reaching  the  street,  he  pondered  over  the  words  in  which  \ 
he  should  apologize  to  Doctor  Bontius,  with  a  face  as  i 
sour  as  if  he  had  wormwood  in  his  mouth ;  but  his  eyes  I 
and  bearded  lips  smiled.  \ 

His  learned  friend  made  the  apology  easy  for  him^  i 
and  when  Belotti  came  home,  he  found  the  doctor  by : 
the  sick  girl's  bed.  i 


CHAPTER  XL 

Frau  Elizabeth  von  Nordwyk  and  Frau  Van  < 
Hout  had  each  asked  the  burgomaster's  wife  to  go  into  \ 
the  country  with  them  to  enjoy  the  beautiful  spring  day,  | 
but  in  spite  of  Barbara's  persuasions,  Maria  could  not  ■ 
be  induced  to  accept  their  invitation.  j 

A  week  had  elapsed  since  her  husband's  departure,  a  ; 
week  whose  days  had  run  their  course  from  morning  to  | 
evening  as  slowly  as  the  brackish  water  in  one  of  the  ^ 
canals,  intersecting  the  meadows  of  Holland,  flowed  to-  i 
wards  the  river. 

Sleep  loves  the  couches  of  youth,  and  had  again  \ 
found  hers,  but  with  the  rising  of  the  sun  the  dissatisfac-  \ 
tion,  anxiety  and  secret  grief,  that  slumber  had  kindly  i 
interrupted,  once  more  returned.      She  felt  that  it  was  ; 


i 


THE    burgomaster's    WIFE.  107 


not  right,  and  her  father  would  have  blamed  her  if  he 
had  seen  her  thus. 

There  are  women  who  are  ashamed  of  rosy  cheeks, 
unrestrained  joy  in  life,  to  whom  the  emotion  of  sorrow 
affords  a  mournful  pleasure.  To  this  class  Maria  cer- 
tainly did  not  belong.  She  would  fain  have  been  happy, 
and  left  untried  no  means  of  regaining  the  lost  joy  of 
her  heart.  Honestly  striving  to  do  her  duty,  she 
returned  to  little  Bessie ;  but  the  child  was  rapidly  re- 
covering and  called  for  Barbara,  Adrian  or  Trautchen, 
as  soon  as  she  was  left  alone  with  her. 

She  tried  to  read,  but  the  few  books  she  had  brought 
from  Delft  were  all  familiar,  and  her  thoughts,  ere  be- 
coming fixed  on  the  old  volumes,  pursued  their  own 
course. 

Wilhelm  brought  her  the  new  motet,  and  she  en- 
deavored to  sing  it ;  but  music  demands  whole  hearts 
from  those  who  desire  to  enjoy  her  gifts,  and  therefore 
melody  and  song  refused  comfort  as  well  as  pleasure  to 
her,  whose  mind  was  engrossed  by  wholly  different  things. 
If  she  helped  Adrian  in  his  work,  her  patience  failed 
much  sooner  than  usual.  On  the  first  market-day,  she 
went  out  with  Trautchen  to  obey  her  husband's  direc- 
tions and  make  purchases  and,  while  shopping  at  the 
various  places  where  different  wares  were  offered — here 
fish,  yonder  meat  or  vegetables,  amid  the  motley  crowd, 
hailed  on  every  side  by  cries  of:  '^  Here,  Frau  Biirger- 
meisterin !  I  have  what  you  want,  Frau  Burger- 
meisterin !"  forgot  the  sorrow  that  oppressed  her. 

With  newly-animated  self-reHance,  she  examined 
flour,  pulse  and  dried  fish,  making  it  a  point  of  honor 
to  bargain  carefully  ;  Barbara  should  see  that  she  knew 
how  to  buy.     The  crowd  was  very  great  every where> 


Io8  THE    burgomaster's    WIFE.  ^ 

for  the  city  magistrates  had  issued  a  proclamation  bid-  j 
ding  every  household,  in  view  of  the  threatened  danger,:^ 
to  supply  itself  abundantly  with  provisions  on  all  the  « 
market-days ;  but  the  purchasers  made  way  for  the  j 
burgomaster's  pretty  young  wife,  and  this  too  pleased  = 
her. 

She  returned  home  with  a  bright  face,  happy  in  hav-  I 
mg  done  her  best,  and  instantly  went  into  the  kitchen  j 
to  see  Barbara.  1 

Peter's  good-natured  sister  had  plainly  perceived  \ 
how  sorely  her  young  sister-in-law's  heart  was  troubled,  i 
and  therefore  gladly  saw  her  go  out  to  make  her  pur-  j 
chases.  Choosing  and  bargaining  would  surely  dispel  i 
her  sorrows  and  bring  other  thoughts.  True,  the  J 
cautious  house-keeper,  who  expected  everything  good  I 
from  Maria  except  the  capacity  of  showing  herself  an  j 
able,  clever  mistress  of  the  house,  had  charged  Trautchen  ] 
to  warn  her  mistress  against  being  cheated.  But  when  \ 
in  market  the  demand  is  two  or  three  times  greater  than  ; 
the  supply,  prices  rise,  and  so  it  happened  that  when  ; 
Maria  told  the  widow  how  much  she  had  paid  for  this  | 
or  that  article,  Barbara's  "  My  child,  that's  perfectly  un-  j 
heard-of!"  or,  "It's  enough  to  drive  us  to  beggary,"  j 
followed  each  other  in  quick  succession.  1 

These  exclamations,  which  under  the  circumstances  1 
were  usually  entirely  unjustifiable,  vexed  Maria ;  but  she  i 
wished  to  be  at  peace  with  her  sister-in-law,  and  though  ; 
it  was  hard  to  bear  injustice,  it  was  contrary  to  her  j 
nature  and  would  have  caused  her  pain  to  express  her  ] 
indignation  in  violent  words.  So  she  merely  said  with  | 
a  little  excitement :  ' 

"  Please  ask  what  other  ladies  are  paying,  and  then  j 
scold,  if  you  think  it  right."  j 


THE    burgomaster's    WIFE.  IO9 

With  these  words  she  left  the  kitchen. 
"  My  child,  I'm  not  scolding  at  all,"  Barbara  called 
after  her,  but   Maria  would  not  hear,  hastily  ascended 
'  the  stairs  and  locked  herself  into  her  room.     Her  joy- 
i  ousness  had  again  vanished. 

I  On  Sunday  she  went  to  church.  After  dinner  she 
''  filled  a  canvas-bag  with  provisions  for  Adrian,  who  was 
,  going  on  a  boating  excursion  with  several  friends,  and 
I  then  sat  at  the  window  in  her  chamber. 

Stately  men,  among  them  many  members  of  the 
council,  passed  by  with  their  gaily-dressed  wives  and 
children ;  ^ young  girls  with  flowers  in  their  bosoms 
moved  arm  in  arm,  by  twos  and  threes,  along  the  foot- 
path beside  the  canal,  to  dance  in  the  village  outside 
the  Zyl-Gate.  They  walked  quietly  forward  with  eyes 
discreetly  downcast,  but  many  a  cheek  flushed  and 
many  an  ill-suppressed  smile  hovered  around  rosy  lips, 
when  the  youths,  who  followed  the  girls  moving  so  de- 
i  corously  along,  as  gaily  and  swiftly  as  sea-gulls  flutter 
J  around  a  ship,  uttered  teasing  jests,  or  whispered  into 
their  ears  words  that  no  third  party  need  hear.    \ 

All  who  were  going  towards  the  Zyl-Gate  seemed 

gay  and  careless,  every  face  showed  what  joyous  hours 

in  the  open  air  and  sunny  meadows  were  anticipated. 

1  The  object  that  attracted  them  appeared  beautiful  and 

!  desirable  to  Maria  also,  but  what  should  she  do  among 

:  the  happy,  how  could  she  be  alone  amid  strangers  witli 

her  troubled  heart  ?  The  shadows  of  the  houses  seemed 

especially  dark  to-day,  the  air  of  the  city  heavier  than 

I  usual,  as  if  the  spring  had  come  to  every  human  being, 

,  great  and  small,  old  and  young,  except  herself 

The  buildings  and  tlie  trees  tliat  bordered  the  Ach- 
tergracht  were  already  casting  longer  shadows,  and  the 


no  THE    burgomaster's   WIFE.  | 

V 

i 

golden  mists  hovering  over  the  roofs  began  to  bel 
mingled  with  a  faint  rosy  Hght,  when  Maria  heard  a  i 
horseman  trotting  up  the  street.  She  drew  herself  up^ 
rigidly  and  her  heart  throbbed  violently.  She  would  not| 
receive  Peter  any  differently  from  usual,  she  must  be- 
frank  to  him  and  show  him  how  she  felt,  and  that  mat-  j 
ters  could  not  go  on  so,  nay  she  was  already  trying  to? 
find  fitting  words  for  what  she  had  to  say  to  him.  Just  ^ 
at  that  moment,  the  horse  stopped  before  the  door.  She 
went  to  the  window,  saw  her  husband  swing  himself 
from  the  saddle  and  look  joyously  up  to  the  window  of 
her  room  and,  though  she  made  no  sign  of  greeting,  her 
heart  drew  her  towards  him.  Every  thought,  every; 
fancy  was  forgotten,  and  with  winged  steps  she  flew] 
down  the  corridor  to  the  stairs.  Meantime  he  had  en- 1 
tered,  and  she  called  his  name.  "  Maria,  child,  are  you;^ 
there !"  he  shouted,  rushed  up  the  steps  as  nimbly  as  a| 
youth,  met  her  on  .one  of  the  upper  stairs  and  drew  herj 
with  overflowing  tenderness  to  his  heart.  I 

"  At  last,  at  last,  I  have  you  again ! "  he  cried  joy-i 
ously,  pressing  his  lips  to  her  eyes  and  her  fi-agrant- 
hair.  She  had  clasped  her  hands  closely  around  hisi 
neck,  but  he  released  himself,  held  them  in  his,  andi 
asked  :  "  Are  Barbara  and  Adrian  at  home  ?  "  { 

She  shook  her  head.  j 

The  burgomaster  laughed,  stooped,  Hfted  her  up  like  ^ 
a  child,  and  carried  her  into  his  room.  As  a  beautiful  ] 
tree  beside  a  burning  house  is  seized  by  the  neighboring  | 
flames,  although  immediately  protected  with  cold  water, ; 
Maria,  in  spite  of  her  long-cherished  resolve  to  receive  ^ 
him  coolly,  was  overwhelmed  by  the  warmth  of  herl 
husband's  feelings.  She  cordially  rejoiced  in  having  him  ^ 
once  more,  and  willingly  believed  him,  as  he  told  her  in  I 

1 


THE    burgomaster's    WIFE.  HI 

loving  words  how  painfully  he  had  felt  their  separation, 
how  sorely  he  had  missed  her,  and  how  distinctly  he, 
who  usually  lacked  the  ability  to  remember  an  absent 
person,  had  had  her  image  before  his  eyes. 

How  warmly,  with  what  convincing  tones  he  under- 
stood how  to  give  expression  to  his  love  to-day !  She 
was  still  a  happy  wife,  and  showed  him  that  she  was 
without  reserve. 

Barbara  and  Adrian  returned  home,  and  there  was 
now  much  to  tell  at  the  evening  meal.  Peter  had  had 
many  a  strange  experience  on  the  journey,  and  gained 
fresh  hope,  the  boy  had  distinguished  himself  at  school, 
and  Bessie's  sickness  might  already  be  called  a  danger 
happily  overcome.  Barbara  was  radiant  with  joy,  for 
all  seemed  well  between  Maria  and  her  brother. 

The  beautiful  April  night  passed  pleasantly  away. 

When  Maria  was  braiding  black  velvet  into  her  hair 
the  next  morning,  she  was  full  of  grateful  emotion,  for  she 
had  found  courage  to  tell  Peter  that  she  desired  to  have 
a  larger  share  in  his  anxieties  than  before,  and  received  a 
kind  assent.  A  worthier,  richer  life,  she  hoped,  would 
now  begin.  He  was  to  tell  her  this  very  day  what  he 
had  discussed  and  accomplished  with  the  Prince  and  at 
Dortrecht,  for  hitherto  no  word  of  all  this  had  escaped 
his  lips. 

Barbara,  who  was  moving  about  in  the  kitchen  and 
just  on  the  point  of  catching  three  chickens  to  kill  them, 
let  them  live  a  litde  longer,  and  even  tossed  half  a 
handful  of  barley  into  their  coop,  as  she  heard  her  sister- 
in-law  come  singing  down-stairs.  The  broken  bars  of 
Wilhelm's  last  madrigal  sounded  as  sweet  and  full  of 
promise  as  the  first  notes  of  the  nightingale,  which  the 
gardener  hears  at  the  end  of  a  long  winter.     It  was 


112  THE    BURGOMASTERS    WIFE. 

\ 

spring  again  in  the  house,  and  her  pleasant  round  face,  f 
in  its  large  cap,  looked  as  bright  and  unclouded  as  a* 
sunflower  amid  its  green  leaves,  as  she  called  to  Maria :  ^ 

"  This  is  a  good  day  for  you,  child;  we'll  melt  down  1 
the  butter  and  salt  the  hams."  \ 

The  words  sounded  as  joyous  as  if  she  had  offered } 
her  an  invitation  to  Paradise,  and  Maria  willingly  helped  i 
in  the  work,  which  began  at  once.  When  the  widow  i 
moved  her  hands,  tongues  could  not  remain  silent,  and  ] 
the  conversation  that  had  probably  taken  place  between  ! 
Peter  and  his  wife  excited  her  curiosity  not  a  little.  ^ 

She  turned  the  conversation  upon  him  cleverly  i 
enough,  and,  as  if  accidentally,  asked  the  question  :  ] 

"  Did  he  apologize  for  his  departure  on  the  anni-  I 
versary  of  your  wedding-day  ?  "  \ 

"  I  know  the  reason;  he  could  not  stay."  I 

"  Of  course  not,  of  course  not ;  but  whoever  is  green  i 
the  goats  eat.  We  mustn't  allow  the  men  to  go  too  far,  ' 
Give,  but  take  also.  -An  injustice  endured  is  a  florin,  : 
for  which  in  marriage  a  calf  can  be  bought."  \ 

"  I  will  not  bargain  with  Peter,  and  if  anything  ] 
weighed  heavily  on  my  mind,  I  have  willingly  forgotten  • 
it  after  so  long  a  separation."  I 

*'  Wet  hay  may  destroy  a  barn,  and  any  one  to  whom  \ 
the  hare  runs  can  catch  him  !  People  ought  not  to  keep  | 
their  troubles  to  themselves,  but  tell  them ;  that's  why  j 
they  have  tongues,  and  yesterday  was  the  right  time  to  ; 
make  a  clean  breast  of  everything  that  grieves  you."       ' 

"  He  was  in  such  a  joyous  mood  when  he  came  ; 
home,  and  then  :  Why  do  you  think  I  feel  unhappy  ?  "    i 

*' Unhappy.     Who  said  so?"  ^ 

Maria  blushed,  but  the  widow  seized  the  knife  and  ■ 
opened  the  hen-coop.  : 

I 

i 


THE    burgomaster's    WIFE.  II3 

Trautchen  was  helping  tlie  two  ladies  in  the  kitchen, 
but  she  was  frequently  interrupted  in  her  work,  for  this 
morning  the  knocker  on  the  door  had  no  rest,  and  those 
who  entered  must  have  brought  the  burgomaster  no 
pleasant  news,  for  his  deep;  angry  voice  was  often 
audible. 

His  longest  discussion  was  with  Herr  Van  Hout, 
who  had  come  to  him,  not  only  to  ask  questions  and 
tell  what  occurred,  but  also  to  make  complaints. 

It  was  no  ordinary  spectacle,  when  these  two  men, 
who,  towering  far  above  their  fellow-citizens,  not  only 
in  stature,  but  moral  earnestness  and  enthusiastic  devo- 
tion to  the  cause  of  liberty,  declared  their  opinions  and 
expressed  their  wrath.  The  inflammable,  restless  Van 
Hout  took  the  first  part,  the  slow,  steadfast  Van  der 
Werff,  with  mighty  impressiveness,  the  second. 

A  bad  disposition  ruled  among  the  fathers  of  the 
city,  the  rich  men  of  old  famihes,  the  great  weavers  and 
brewers,  for  to  them  property,  life  and  consideration 
were  more  than  religion  and  liberty,  while  the  poor  men, 
who  laboriously  supported  their  families  by  the  sweat  of 
their  brows,  were  joyously  determined  to  sacrifice  money 
and  blood  for  the  good  cause. 

There  was  obstacle  after  obstacle  to  conquer.  The 
scaffolds  and  barns,  firames  and  all  other  wood-work  that 
could  serve  to  conceal  a  man,  were  to  be  levelled  to  the 
earth,  as  all  the  country-houses  and  other  buildings  near 
the  city  had  formerly  been.  Much  newly-erected  wood- 
work was  already  removed,  but  the  rich  longest  resisted 
having  the  axe  put  to  theirs.  New  earthworks  had 
been  commenced  at  the  important  fort  of  Valkenburg  ; 
but  part  of  the  land,  where  the  workmen  were  obliged 
to  dig,  belonged  to  a  brewer,  who  demanded  a  large 


\ 

114  THE    burgomaster's    WIFE.  ] 

\ 

sum  in  compensation  for  his  damaged  meadow.  When  I 
the  siege  was  raised  in  March,  ])aper-money  was  re- 1 
stored,  round  pieces  of  pasteboard,  one  side  of  which  | 
bore  the  Netherland  hon,  with  the  inscription,  *'  Haec  I 
libertatis  ergo,''  while  the -other  had  the  coat-of-arms  of  ^ 
the  city  and  the  motto  "  God  guard  Leyden."  These  \ 
were  intended  to  be  exchanged  for  coin  or  provisions,  but  i 
rich  speculators  had  obtained  possession  of  many  pieces,  \ 
and  were  trying  to  raise  their  value.  Demands  of  every  \ 
kind  pressed  upon  him,  and  amid  all  these  claims  the  ' 
burgomaster  was  also  compelled  to  think  of  his  own  \ 
affairs,  for  all  intercourse  with  the  outside  world  would  \ 
soon  be  cut  off,  and  it  was  necessary  to  settle  many  ; 
things  with  the  representative  of  his  business  in  Ham-  ^ 
burg.  Great  losses  were  threatening,  but  he  left  no  *■. 
means  untried  to  secure  for  his  family  what  might  yet  be  \ 
saved.  \ 

He  rarely  saw  wife  or  children  ;  yet  thought  he  was  » 
fulfilling  the  promise  Maria  had  obtained  from  him  the  | 
evening  after  his  return,  when  he  briefly  answered  her  | 
questions  or  voluntarily  gave  her  such  sentences  as :  f 
''There  was  warm  work  at  the  town-hall  to-day!"  or,  *'It  I 
is  more  difiicult  to  circulate  the  paper-money  than  we  \ 
expected  !"  He  did  not  feel  the  kindly  necessity  of  hav- 1 
ing  a  confidante  and  expressing  his  feelings,  and  his  first  | 
wife  had  been  perfectly  contented  and  happy,  if  he  sat  si- ji 
lently  beside  her  during  quiet  hours,  called  her  his  treasure,  | 
petted  the  children,  or  even  praised  her  cracknels  and  * 
Sunday  roast.  Business  and  public  affairs  had  been  his ': 
concern,  the  kitchen  and  nursery  hers.  What  they  hadfj 
shared,  was  the  consciousness  of  the  love  one  felt  for  the.ii 
other,  their  children,  the  distinction,  honors  and  posses-  j 
sions  of  the  household.  t 


THE    BURGOMASTERS    WIFE.  I15 

Maria  asked  more  and  he  was  ready  to  grant  it,  but 
when  in  the  evening  she  pressed  the  wearied  man  with 
questions  he  was  accustomed  to  hear  only  from  the  Hps 
of  men,  he  put  her  off  for  the  answers  till  less  busy  times, 
or  fell  asleep  in  the  midst  of  her  inquiries. 

She  saw  how  many  burdens  oppressed  him,  how  un- 
weariedly  he  toiled — but  why  did  he  not  move  a  portion 
of  the  load  to  other  shoulders  ? 

Once,  during  the  beautiful  spring  weather,  he  went 
out  with  her  into  the  country.  She  seized  upon  the  op- 
portunity to  represent  that  it  was  his  duty  to  himself  and 
her  to  gain  more  rest. 

He  listened  patiently,  and  when  she  had  finished  her 
entreaty  and  warnings,  took  her  hand  in  his,  saying  : 

''  You  have  met  Herr  Marnix  von  St.  Aldegonde 
and  know  what  the  cause  of  liberty  owes  him.  Do  you 
know  his  motto  ?" 

She  nodded  and  answered  softly  :  '"  Repos  ailleursy 

*^  Where  else  can  we  rest,"  he  repeated  firmly. 

A  slight  shiver  ran  through  her  limbs,  and  as  she 
withdrew  her  hands,  she  could  not  help  thinking : 
*'  Where  else  ; — so  not  here.  Rest  and  happiness  have 
no  home  here."  She  did  not  utter  the  words,  but  could 
not  drive  them  from  her  mind. 


CHAPTER  XH. 

During  these  May  days  the  Hoogstraten  mansion 
was  the  quietest  of  all  the  houses  in  quiet  Nobelstrasse. 
By  the  orders  of  Doctor  Bontius  and  the  sick  lady's  at 
tomey,  a  mixture  of  straw  and  sand  lay  on  the  cause- 


Il6  THE    burgomaster's    WIFE.  j 

way  before  it.  The  windows  were  closely  curtained,  and  ^ 
a  piece  of  felt  hung  between  the  door  and  the  knocker.  | 
The  door  was  ajar,  but  a  servant  sat  close  behind  it  to  1 
answer  those  who  sought  admission.  I 

On  a  morning  early  in  May  the  musician^  Wilhelni  | 
Corneliussohn,  and  Janus  Dousa  turned  the  corner  of  I 
Nobelstrasse.  Both  men  were  engaged  in  eager  conver-  I 
sation,  but  as  they  approached  the  straw  and  sand,  their  i 
voices,  became  lower  and  then  ceased  entirely.  I 

**  The  carpet  we  spread  under  the  feet  of  the  con-  \ 
queror  Death,"  said  the  nobleman.  "  I  hope  he  will  | 
lower  the  torch  only  once  here  and  do  honor  to  age,  lit-  I 
tie  worthy  of  respect  as  it  may  be.  Don't  stay  too  long  i 
in  the  infected  house,  Herr  Wilhelm."  ^ 

The  musician  gently  opened  the  door.  The  servant  I 
silently  greeted  him  and  turned  towards  the  stairs  to  call  | 
Belotti;  for  the  *' player-man "  had  already  enquired  r 
more  than  once  for  the  steward.  .  ) 

Wilhelm  entered  the  little  room  where  he  usually  \ 
waited,  and  for  the  first  time  found  another  visitor  there> ; 
but  in  a  somewhat  peculiar  attitude.  Father  Damianus  l 
sat  bolt  upright  in  an  arm-chair,  with  his  head  drooping  I 
on  one  side,  sound  asleep.  The  face  of  the  priest,  a  man  | 
approaching  his  fortieth  year,  was  as  pink  and  white  | 
as  a  child's,  and  framed  by  a  thin  light-brown  beard.  A  | 
narrow  circle  of  thin  light  hair  surrounded  his  large  ^ 
tonsure,  and  a  heavy  dark  rosary  of  olive-wood  beads  | 
hung  from  the  sleeper's  hands.  A  gende,  kindly  smile  | 
hovered  around  his  half-parted  lips.  ) 

"  This  mild  saint  in  long  woman's  robes  doesn't  look! 
as  if  he  could  grasp  anything  strongly"  thought  Wilhelm,^ 
"  yet  his  hands  are  callous  and  have  toiled  hard."  | 

When  Belotti  entered  the  room  and  saw  the  sleeping  | 

'■>i 

y 


THE    BURGOMASTERS    WIFE.  II7 

priest,  he  carefully  pushed  a  pillow  under  his  head  and 
beckoned  to  Wilhelm  to  follow  him  into  the  entry. 

*'  We  won't  grudge  him  a  little  rest,"  said  the  Italian. 
*'  He  has  sat  beside  the  padrona's  bed  from  yesterday 
noon  until  two  hours  ago.  Usually  she  doesn't  know 
what  is  going  on  around  her,  but  as  soon  as  conscious- 
ness returns  she  wants  religious  consolation.  She  still 
refuses  to  take  the  sacrament  for  the  dying,  for  she  won't 
admit  that  she  is  approaching  her  end.  Yet  often,  when 
the  disease  attacks  her  more  sharply,  she  asks  in  mortal 
teiTor  if  everything  is  ready,  for  she  is  afraid  to  die  with- 
out extreme  unction." 

*'  And  how  is  Fraulein  Henrica  ?" 

"A  very  little  better." 

The  priest  had  now  come  out  of  the  little  room. 
Belotti  reverently  kissed  his  hand  and  Wilhelm  bowed 
respectfully. 

''  I  had  fallen  asleep,"  said  Damianus  simply  and 
naturally,  but  in  a  voice  less  deep  and  powerful  than 
would  have  been  expected  from  his  broad  breast  and 
tall  figure.  "  I  will  read  the  mass,  visit  my  sick,  and  then 
return.     Have  you  thought  better  of  it,  Belotti  ?" 

^'  It  won't  do  sir,  the  Virgin  knows  it  won't  do.  My 
dismissal  was  given  for  the  first  of  May,  this  is  the 
eighth,  and  yet  I'm  still  here — 1  haven't  left  the  house 
because  I'm  a  Christian  !  Now  the  ladies  have  a  good 
physician,  Sister  Gonzaga  is  doing  her  duty,  you  your- 
self will  earn  by  your  nursing  a  place  among  the  martyrs 
in  Paradise,  so,  without  making  myself  guilty  of  a  sin,  I 
can  tie  up  my  bundle." 

*'  You  will  nof  go,  Belotti,"  said  the  priest  firmly.  "  If 
you  still  insist  on  having  your  own  way,  at  least  do  not 
call  yourself  a  Christian." 


Il8  THE    burgomaster's    WIFE. 

"  You  will  stay,"  cried  Wilhelm,  "  if  only  for  the  sake  , 
of  the  young  lady,  to  whom  you  still  feel  kindly."  '• 

Belotti  shook  his  head,  and  answered  quietly  :  ; 

"  You  can  add  nothing,  young  sir,  to  what  the  holy  i 
Father  represented  to  me  yesterday.  But  my  mind  is  ! 
made  up,  I  shall  go ;  yet^  as  I  value  the  holy  Father's  ] 
good  opinion  and  yours,  I  beg  you  to  do  me  the  favor  ] 
to  listen  to  me.  I  have  passed  my  sixty-second  birth-  \ 
day,  and  an  old  horse  or  an  old  servant  stands  a  long  ] 
time  in  the  market-place  before  any  one  will  buy  them.  ; 
There  might  probably  be  a  place  in  Brussels  for  a  ! 
Catholic  steward,  who  understands  his  business,  but  this  I 
old  heart  longs  to  return  to  Naples — ardently,  ardently,  i 
unutterably.  You  have  seen  our  blue  sea  and  our  sky,  I 
young  sir,  and  I  yearn  for  them,  but  even  more  for  } 
other,  smaller  things.  It  now  seems  a  joy  that  I  can  j 
speak  in  my  native  language  to  you,  Herr  Wilhelm,  and  :| 
you,  holy  Father.  But  there  is  a  country  where  every  one  i 
uses  the  same  tongue  that  I  do.  There  is  a  little  village  I 
at  the  foot  of  Vesuvius — merciful  Heavens !  Many  a  f 
person  would  be  afraid  to  stay  there,  even  half  an  hour,  i 
when  the  mountain  quakes,  the  ashes  fall  in  showers,  ^ 
and  the  glowing  lava  pours  out  in  a  stream.  The  '\ 
houses  there  are  by  no  means  so  well  built,  and  the  .; 
window-panes  are  not  so  clean  as  in  this  country.  1  | 
almost  fear  that  there  are  few  glass  windows  in  Resina,  • 
but  the  children  don't  freeze,  any  more  than  they  do  1 
here.  What  would  a  Leyden  house-keeper  say  to  our  j 
village  streets  ?  Poles  with  vines,  boughs  of  fig-trees,  I 
and  all  sorts  of  under-clothing  on  the  roofs,  at  the  win-  I 
dows,  and  the  crooked,  sloping  balconies;  orange  and  j 
lemon-trees  with  golden  fruit  grow  in  the  little  gar-  j 
dens,  which  have  neither  straight  paths  nor  symmetrical  j 


THE    BURGOMASTERS    WIFE.  II9 

beds.  Everything  there  grows  together  topsy-turvy. 
The  boys,  who  in  rags  that  no  tailor*  has  darned  or 
mended,  clamber  over  the  white  vineyard  walls,  the 
little  girls,  whose  mothers  conib  their  hair  before  the 
doors  of  the  houses,  are  not  so  pink  and  white,  nor  so 
nicely  washed  as  the  Holland  children,  but  I  should 
like  to  ^ee  again  the  brown-skinned,  black-haired  httlc 
ones  with  the  dark  eyes,  and  end  my  days  amid  all  the 
clatter  in  the  warm  air,  among  my  nephews,  nieces  and 
blood-relations." 

As  he  uttered  these  words,  the  old  man's  features 
had  flushed  and  his  black  eyes  sparkled  w  ith  a  fire,  that 
but  a  short  time  before  the  northern  air  and  his  long 
years  of  servitude  seemed  to  have  extinguished.  Since 
neither  the  priest  nor  the  musician  answered  immediately, 
he  continued  more  quietly  : 

'*  Monseigneur  Gloria  is  going  to  Italy  now,  and  I 
can  accompany  him  to  Rome  as  courier.  From  thence 
I  can  easily  reach  Naples,  and  hve  there  on  the  interest 
of  my  savings  free  from  care.  My  future  master  will 
leave  on  the  15th,  and  on  the  12th  I  must  be  in  Ant- 
werp, where  I  am  to  meet  him." 

The  eyes  of  the  priest  and  the  musician  met.  Wil- 
helm  lacked  courage  to  seek  to  withhold  the  steward  from 
carrying  out  his  plan,  but  Damianus  summoned  up 
his  resolution,  laid  his  hand  on  the  old  man's  shoulder, 
and  said : 

"  If  you  wait  here  a  few  weeks  more,  Belbtti,  you 
will  find  the  true  rest,  the  peace  of  a  good  conscience. 
The  crown  of  life  is  promised  to  those,  who  are  faithful 
unto  death.  When  these  sad  days  are  over,  it  will  be 
easy  to  smooth  the  way  to  your  home.  We  shall  meet 
agam  towards  noon,  Belotti.     If  my  assistance  is  neces- 


I20  THE    burgomaster's    WIFE. 

sary,  send  for  me ;  old  Ambrosius  knows  where  to  find 
me.  May  God's  blessing  rest  upon  you,  and  if  you  will 
accept  it  from  me,  on  you  also,  Meister  Wilhelm." 

After  the  priest  had  left  the  house,  Belotti  said,  sigh- 
ing : 

*'  He'll  yet  force  me  to  yield  to  his  will.  He  abuses 
his  power  over  souls.  I'm  no  saint,  and  what  he  asks 
of  me — " 

"  Is  right,"  said  Wilhelm  firmly. 

*'  But  you  don't  know  what  it  is  to  throw  away,  like 
a  pair  of  worn-out  shoes,  the  dearest  hope  of  a  long,  sad 
life.  And  for  whom,  I  ask  you,  for  whom  ?  Do  you 
know  my  padrona  ?  Oh !  sir,  I  have  experienced 
in  this  house  things,  which  your  youth  does  not  dream 
could  be  possible.  The  young  lady  has  wounded  you. 
Am  I  right  ot  wrong  ?" 

"  You  are  mistaken,  Belotti." 

"  Really  ?  I  am  glad  for  your  sake,  you  are  a  modest 
artist,  but  the  signorina  bears  the  Hoogstraten  name, 
and  that  is  saying  everything.  Do  you  know  her 
father  ?" 

"  No,  Belotti." 

*' That's  a  race — a  race!  Have  you  never  heard 
anything  of  the  story  of  our  signorina's  older  sister  ?'^    " 

"  Has  Henrica  an  older  sister?" 

*'  Yes,  sir,  and  when  I  think  of  her. — Imagine  the 
signorina,  exactly  like  our  signorina,  only  taller,  more 
stately,  more  beautiful." 

*'  Isabella !"  exclaimed  the  musician.  A  conjecture, 
which  had  been  aroused  since  his  conversation  with 
Henrica,  appeared  to  be  confirmed ;  he  seized  the 
steward's  arm  so  suddenly  and  unexpectedly,  that  the 
latter  drew  back,  and  continued  eagerly  :      *'  What  do 


THE    BURGOMASTERS    WIFE.  121 

you  know  of  her?  I  beseech  you,  Belotti,  tell  rae 
all." 

The  servant  looked  up  the  stairs,  then  shaking  his 
head,  answered : 

"  You  are  probably  mistaken.  There  has  never  been 
an  Isabella  in  this  house  to  my  knowledge,  but  I  will 
gladly  place  myself  at  your  service.  Come  again  after 
sunset,  but  you  must  expect  to  hear  no  pleasant  tale." 

Twilight  had  scarcely  yielded  to  darkness,  when  the 
musician  again  entered  the  Hoogstraten  mansion.  The 
little  room  was  empty,  but  Belotti  did  not  keep  him 
waiting  long. 

The  old  man  placed  a  dainty  little  waiter,  bearing  a 
jug  of  wine  and  a  goblet,  on  the  table  beside  the  lamp 
and,  after  informing  Wilhelm  of  the  invalids'  condition, 
courteously  offered  him  a  chair.  When  the  musician 
asked  him  why  he  had  not  brought  a  cup  for  himself 
too,  he  replied : 

"  I  drink  nothing  but  water,  but  allow  me  to  take  the 
liberty  to  sit  down.  The  servant  who  attends  to  the 
chambers  has  left  the  house,  and  I've  done  nothing  but 
go  up  and  down  stairs  all  day.  It  tries  my  old  legs,  and 
we  can  expect  no  quiet  night." 

A  single  candle  lighted  the  little  room.  Belotti, 
who  had  leaned  far  back  in  his  chair,  opened  his 
clenched  hands  and  slowly  began : 

''  I  spoke  this  morning  of  the  Hoogstraten  race. 
Children  of  Hie  same  parents,  it  is  true,  ^re  often  very  un- 
like, but  in  your  little  country,  which  speaks  its  own 
language  and  has  many  things  ])eculiar  to  itself — you 
won't  deny  that — every  old  family  has  its  special  traits. 
I  know,  for  I  have  been  in  many  a  noble  household  in 
Holland.     Every  race  has  its  own  peculiar  blood  and 


122  THE    BURGOMASTERS    WIFE. 

ways.  Even  where — by  your  leave — there  is  a  crack  in 
the  brain,  it  rarely  happens  to  only  one  member  of  a 
family.  My  mistress  has  more  of  her  French  mother's 
nature.  But  I  intended  to  speak  only  of  the  signorina, 
and  am  wandering  too  far  from  my  subject." 

"  No,  Belotti,  certainly  not,  we  have  plenty  of  time, 
and  I  shall  be  glad  to  listen  to  you,  but  first  you  must 
answer  one  question." 

**  Why,  sir,  how  your  cheeks  glow !  Did  you  meet 
the  signorina  in  Italy  ?" 

"  Perhaps  so,  Belotti." 

"  Why,  of  course,  of  course !  Whoever  has  once 
seen  her,  doesn't  easily  forget.  What  is  it  you  wish  to 
know  ?'* 

"  First,  the  lady's  name." 

**  Anna." 

"  And  not  Isabella  also  ?" 

"  No,  sir,  she  was  never  called  anything  but  Anna." 

**  And  when  did  she  leave  Holland  ?  " 

*^  Wait;  it  was  —  four  years  ago  last  Easter." 

**  Has  she  dark,  brown  or  fair  hair  ?  " 

*'  I've  said  already  that  she  looked  just  like  Fraulein 
Henrica.  But  what  lady  might  not  have  fair,  brown  or 
dark  hair  ?  I  think  we  shall  reach  the  goal  sooner,  if 
you  will  let  me  ask  a  question  now.  Had  the  lady  you 
mean  a  large  semi-circular  scar  just  under  the  hair,  ex- 
actly in  the  middle  of  her  forehead  ?" 

"  Enough,"  cried  Wilhelm,  rising  hastily.  "  She  fell 
on  one  of  her  father's  weapons  when  a  child." 

"  On  the  contrary,  sir,  the  handle  of  Junker  Van 
Hoogstraten's  weapon  fell  on  the  forehead  of  his  own 
daughter.  How  horrified  you  look  !  Oh  !  I  have  wit- 
nessed worse  things  in  this  house.      Now  it  is  your  turn 


THE    burgomaster's    WIFE.  1 23 

again :  In  what  city  of  my  home  did  you  meet  the 
signorina  ?  " 

'*  In  Rome,  alone  and  under  an  assumed  name. 
Isabella — a  Holland  girl!  Pray  go  on  with  your  story, 
Belotti;  I  won't  interrupt  you  again.  What  had  the 
child  done,  that  her  own  father — '* 

"  He  is  the  wildest  of  all  the  wild  Hoogstratens. 
Perhaps  you  may  have  seen  men  like  him  in  Italy — 
in  this  country  you  might  seek  long  for  such  a  hurri- 
cane. You  must  not  think  him  an  evil-disposed  man, 
but  a  word  that  goes  against  the  grain,  a  look  askance 
will  rob  him  of  his  senses,  and  things  are  done  which  he 
repents  as  soon  as  they  are  over.  The  signorina  received 
her  scar  in  the  same  way.  She  was  a  mere  child,  and 
of  course  ought  not  to  have  touched  fire-arms,  neverthe- 
less she  did  whenever  she  could,  and  .once  a  pistol  went 
off  and  the  bullet  struck  one  of  the  best  hunting-dogs. 
Her  father  heard  the  report  and,  when  he  saw  the  ani- 
mal lying  on  the  ground  and  the  pistol  at  the  little  girPs 
feet,  he  seized  it  and  with  the  sharp-edged  handle 
struck — '* 

"  A  child,  his  own  daughter!"  exclaimed  Wilhelm  in- 
dignantly. 

"People  are  differently  constituted,"  Belotti  con- 
tinued. "  Some,  the  class  to  which  you  probably  belong, 
cautiously  consider  before  they  speak  or  act ;  the  second 
reflect  a  long  time  and,  when  they  are  ready,  pour  fortli 
a  great  many  words,  but  rarely  act  at  all ;  while  the 
third,  and  at  their  head  the  Hoogstraten  family,  heap 
deeds  on  deeds,  and  if  they  ever  think,  it  is  only  after 
the  act  is  accomplished.  If  they  then  find  that  they 
have  committed  an  injustice,  pride  comes  in  and  forbids 
them  to  confess,  atone  for,  or  recall  it.      So  one  misfor- 


124  THE    burgomaster's    WIFE. 

tune  follows  another ;  but  the  gentlemen  pay  no  heed 
and  find  forgetfulness  in  drinking  and  gambling,  carous- 
ing and  hunting.  There  are  plenty  of  debts,  but  all 
anxiety  concerning  them  is  left  to  the  creditors,  and  boys 
who  receive  no  inheritance  are  supplied  with  a  place  at 
court  or  in  the  army ;  for  the  girls,  thank  God,  there  is 
no  lack  of  convents,  if  they  confess  our  holy  religion, 
and  both  have  expectations  from  rich  aunts  and  other 
blood  relations,  who  die  without  childrgfk" 

"  You  paint  in  vivid  colors." 

*' But  they  are  true,  and  they  all  suit  the  Junker; 
though  to  be  sure  he  need  not  keep  his  property  for  sons, 
since  his  wife  gave  him  none.  He  met  her  at  court  in 
Brussels,  and  she  came  from  Parma." 

"  Did  you  know  her  ?" 

"  She  died  before  I  came  to  the  padrona's  house. 
The  two  young  ladies  grew  up  without  a  mother.  You 
have  heard  that  their  father  would  even  attack  them,  yet 
he  doubtless  loved  them  and  would  never  resolve  to 
place  them  in  a  convent.  True,  he  often  felt — at  least 
lie  freely  admitted  it  in  conversations  with  her  excellenza 
— that  there  were  more  suitable  places  for  young  girls 
than  his  castle,  where  matters  went  badly  enough,  and 
so  he  at  last  sent  his  oldest  daughter  to  us.  My  mistress 
usually  could  not  endure  the  society  of  young  girls,  but 
Fraulein  Anna  was  one  of  her  nearest  relatives,  and  I 
know  she  invited  her  of  her  own  accord.  I  can  still  see 
in  memory  the  signorina  at  sixteen ;  a  sweeter  creature, 
Herr  Wilhelm,  my  eyes  have  never  beheld  before  or  since, 
and  yet  she  never  remained  the  same.  I  have  seen  her 
as  soft  as  Flemish  velvet,  but  at  other  times  she  could 
rage  like  a  November  storm  in  your  country.  She  was 
always  beautiful  as  a  rose  and,  as   her  mother's    old 


THE    burgomaster's    WIFE.  125 

cameriera — she  was  a  native  of  Lugano — had  brought 
her  up,  and  the  priest  who  taught  her  came  from  Pisa 
and  was  acknowledged  to  be  an  excellent  musician,  she 
spoke  my  language  like  a  child  of  Tuscany  and  was  per- 
fectly familiar  with  music.  You  have  doubtless  heard 
her  singing,  her  harp  and  lute-playing,  but  you  should 
know  that  all  the  ladies  of  the  Hoogstraten  family,  with 
the  exception  of  my  mistress,  possess  a  special  talent  for 
your  art.  In  summer  we  lived  in  the  beautiful  country- 
house,  that  was  torn  down  before  the  seige  by  your 
friends — with  litde  justice  I  think.  Many  a  stately  guest 
rode  out  to  visit  us.  We  kept  open  house,  and  where 
there  is  a  good  table  and  a  beautiful  young  lady  like  our 
signorina,  the  gallants  are  not  far  off.  Among  them  was 
a  very  aristocradc  gentleman  of  middle  age,  the  Mar- 
quis d  Avennes,  whom  her  excellenza  had  expressly  in- 
vited. We  had  never  received  any  prince  with  so  much 
attention;  but  this  was  a  matter  of  course,  for  his  mother 
was  a  relative  of  her  excellenza.  You  must  know  that 
my  mistresSj  on  her  mother's  side,  is  descended  from  a 
family  in  Normandy.  The  Marquis  d'Avennes  was  cer- 
tainly an  elegant  cavalier,  but  rather  dainty  than  manly. 
He  was  soon  madly  in  love  with  Fraulein  Anna,  and 
asked  in  due  form  for  her  hand.  Her  excellenza  favored 
the  match,  and  the  father  said  simply:  *You  will  take 
him'  He  would  listen  to  no  opposition.  Other 
gentlemen  don't  consult  tlieir  daughters  when  a  suitable 
lover  appears.  So  the  signorina  became  the  marquis's 
betrothed  wife,  but  the  padrona  said  firmly  that  her 
niece  was  too  young  to  be  married.  She  induced  Jun- 
ker Van  Hoogstraten,  whom  she  held  as  firmly  as 
a  farrier  holds  a  filly,  to  defer  the  wedding  until 
Easter.       The   outfit   was  to  be  provided  during   the 


I2t)  THE    BURGOMASTERS    WIFE.  \ 

i 

winter.  The  condition  that  he  must  wait  six  months  i 
was  imposed  on  the  marquis,  and  he  went  back  to  i 
France  with  the  ring  on  his  finger.  His  betrothed  bride  j 
did  not  shed  a  single  tear  for  him,  and  as  soon  as  he  1 
had  gone,  flung  the  engagement  ring  into  the  jewel-cup  ^ 
on  her  dressing-table,  before  the  eyes  of  the  camariera,  [ 
from  whom  I  heard  the  story.  She  did  not  venture  to  ; 
oppose  her  father,  but  did  not  hesitate  to  express  her  ' 
opinion  of  the  marquis  to  her  excellenza,  and  her  aunt,  ' 
though  she  had  favored  the  Frenchman's  suit,  allowed  | 
it.  Yet  there  had  often  been  fierce  quarrels  between  ] 
the  old  and  young  lady,  and  if  the  padrona  had  had  ' 
reason  to  clip  the  wild  falcon's  wings  and  teach  her  ; 
what  is  fitting  for  noble  ladies,  the  signorina  would  | 
have  been  justified  in  complaining  of  many  an  exaction,  | 
by  which  the  padrona  had  spoiled  her  pleasure  in  life.  ; 
I  am  sorry  to  destroy  the  confidence  of  your  youth,  but  ; 
Avhoever  grows  grey,  with  his  eyes  open,  will  meet  per-  : 
sons  who  rejoice,  nay  to  whom  it  is  a  necessity  to  injure  ; 
others.  Yet  it  is  a  consolation,  that  no  one  is  wicked  i 
simply  for  the  sake  of  wickedness,  and  I  have  often  i 
found — how  shall  I  express  it? — that  the  worst  im- ^ 
pulses  arise  from  the  perversion,  or  even  the  excess- 
of  the  noblest  virtues,  whose  reverse  or  caricature  they  i 
become.  1  have  seen  base  envy  proceed  from  beautiful  < 
ambition,  contemptible  avarice  from  honest  emulation,] 
fierce  hate  from  tender  love.  My  mistress,  when  she  J 
was  young,  knew  how  to  love  truly  and  faithfully,  but  j 
she  was  shamefully  deceived,  and  now  rancor,  not  against  j 
an  individual,  but  against  life,  has  taken  possession  of  i 
her,  and  her  noble  loyalty  has  become  tenacious  ad-  ■ 
lierence  to  bad  wishes.  How  this  has  happened  you  J 
will  learn,  if  you  will  continue  to  listen.  j 


THE    BURGOMASTERS    WIFE.  12/ 

'•  When  winter  came,  I  was  ordered  to  go  to  Brus- 
sels and  establish  the  new  household  in  splendid  style. 
The  ladies  were  to  follow  me.  It  was  four  years  ago. 
The  Duke  of  Alva  then  lived  as  viceroy  in  Brussels, 
and  this  nobleman  held  my  mistress  in  high  esteem, 
nay  had  even  twice  paid  us  the  honor  of  a  visit.  His 
aristocratic  officers  also  frequented  our  house,  among 
them  Don  Luis  d'Avila,  a  nobleman  of  ancient 
family,  who  was  one  of  the  duke's  favorites.  Like 
the  Marquis  d'Avennes,  he  was  no  longer  in  his  early 
youth,  but  was  a  man  of  totally  different  stamp ; 
tall,  strong  as  if  hammered  from  steel,  a  soldier  of  in- 
vincible strength  and  skill,  a  most  dreaded  seeker  of 
quarrels,  but  a  man  whose  glowing  eyes  and  wonderful 
gift  of  song  must  have  exerted  a  mysterious,  bewitching 
])ower  over  women.  Dozens  of  adventures,  in  which  he 
was  said  to  have  taken  part,  were  told  in  the  servant's 
hall  and  half  of  them  had  some  foundation  of  truth,  as 
I  afterwards  learned  by  experience.  If  you  suppose  this 
heart-breaker  bore  any  resemblance  to  the  gay,  curly- 
haired  minions  of  fortune,  on  whom  young  ladies  lavish 
their  love,  you  are  mistaken;  Don  Luis  was  a  grave 
man  with  close-cut  hair,  who  never  wore  anything  but 
dark  clothes,  and  even  carried  a  sword,  whose  hilt,  in- 
stead of  gold  and  silver,  consisted  of  blackened  metal. 
He  resembled  death  much  more  than  blooming  love. 
Perhaps  this  very  thing  made  him  irresistible,  since  we 
are  all  born  for  death  and  no  suitor  is  so  sure  of  victory 
as  he. 

"  The  padrona  had  not  been  favorably  disposed  to 
him  at  first,  but  this  mood  soon  changed,  and  at  New 
Year's  he  top  was  admitted  to  small  evening  receptions 
of  intimate  friends.    He  came  whenever  we  invited  him, 


128  THE    burgomaster's    WIFE.  I 

but  had  no  word,  no  look,  scarcely  a  greeting  for  our  I 
young  lady.  Only  when  it  pleased  the  signorina  to  sing,  ] 
he  went  near  her  and  sharply  criticised  anything  in  her  ^ 
execution  that  chanced  to  displease  him.  He  often  sang  \ 
himself  too,  and  then  usually  chose  the  same  songs  as  \ 
Fraulein  Anna,  as  if  to  surpass  her  by  his  superior  skill.  \ 

*^  So  things  went  on  till  the  time  of  the  carnival.  On  ] 
Shrove-Tuesday  the  padrona  gave  a  large  entertainment,  ] 
and  when  I  led  the  servants  and  stood  behind  the  sig-  ] 
norina  and  Don  Luis,  to  whom  her  excellenza  had  long  j 
been  in  the  habit  of  assigning  the  seat  beside  her  niece,  i 
I  noticed  that  their  hands  met  under  the  table  and  rested  j 
in  each  other's  clasp  a  long  time.  My  heart  was  so  full  | 
of  anxiety,  that  it  was  very  hard  for  me  to  keep  the  at-  | 
tention  so  necessary  on  that  evening — and  when  the  J 
next  morning,  the  padrona  summoned  me  to  settle  the  ] 
accounts,  I  thought  it  my  duty  to  modestly  remark  that  ■ 
Don  Luis  d'Avila's  wooing  did  not  seem  disagreeable  \ 
to  the  young  lady  in  spite  of  her  betrothal.  She  let  me  i 
speak,  but  when  I  ventured  to  repeat  what  people  said  \ 
of  the  Spaniard,  angrily  started  up  and  showed  me  to  the  | 
door.  A  faithful  servant  often  hears  and  sees  more  than  I 
his  employers  suspect,  and  I  had  the  confidence  of  the  j 
padrona's  foster-sister,  who  is  now  dead  ;  but  at  that  \ 
time  Susanna  knew  everything  that  concerned  her  mis-  } 
stress.  I 

"  There  was  a  bad  prospect  for  the  expectant  bride-  | 
groom  in  France,  for  whenever  the  padrona  spoke  of  \ 
him,  it  was  with  a  laugh  we  knew,  and  which  boded  no  i 
good ;  but  she  still  wrote  frequently  to  the  marquis  and  j 
his  mother,  and  many  a  letter  from  Rochebrun  reached 
our  house.  To  be  sure,  her  excellenza  also  gave  Don  J 
Luis  more  than  one  secret  audience.  ] 


THE    burgomaster's    WIFE.  1 29 

"  During  Lent  a  messenger  from  Fraulein  Van 
Hoogstraten's  father  arrived  with  the  news,  that  at 
Easter  he,  himself,  would  come  to  Brussels  from  Haar- 
lem, and  the  marquis  from  Castle  Rochebrun,  and  on 
Maundy-Thursday  I  received  orders  to  dress  the  private 
chapel  with  flowers,  engage  post-horses,  and  do  several 
other  things.  On  Good  Friday,  the  day  of  our  Lord^s 
crucifixion  —  I  wish  I  were  telHng  lies — early  in  the 
morning  of  Good  Friday  the  signorina  was  dressed  in 
all  her  bridal  finery.  Don  Luis  appeared  clad  in 
black,  proud  and  gloomy  as  usual,  and  by  candle-light, 
before  sunrise  on  a  cold,  damp  morning — it  seems  to 
me  as  if  it  were  only  yesterday — the  Castilian  was  mar- 
ried to  our  young  mistress.  The  padrona,  a  Spanish 
officer  and  I  were  the  witnesses.  At  seven  o'clock  the 
carriage  drove  up,  and  after  it  was  packed  Don  Luis 
handed  me  a  little  box  to  put  in  the  vehicle.  It  was 
heavy  and  I  knew  it  well ;  the  padrona  was  in  the  habit 
of  keeping  her  gold  coin  in  it.  At  Easter  the  whole 
city  learned  that  Don  Luis  d'Avila  had  eloped  with 
the  beautiful  Anna  Van  Hoogstraten,  after  killing  her 
betrothed  bridegroom  in  a  duel  on  Maundy-Thursday  at 
Hals  on  his  way  to  Brussels — scarcely  twenty-four 
hours  before  the  wedding. 

"  I  shall  never  forget  how  Junker  Van  Hoogstraten 
raged.  The  padrona  refused  to  see  him  and  pretended 
to  be  ill,  but  she  was  as  well  as  only  she  could  be  during 
these  last  few  years." 

*'  And  do  you  know  how  to  interpret  your  mistress's 
mysterious  conduct  ?  "  asked  Wilhelm. 

''Yes  sir;  her  reasons  are  perfecdy  evident.  But  I 
must  hasten,  it  is  growing  late;  besides  I  cannot  tell 
you  minute  particulars,  for  I  was  myself  a  child  when  the 

9 


130  THE    BURGOMASTER'S    WIFE. 

event  happened,  though  Susanna  has  told  me  many  things 
that  would  probably  be  worth  relating.  Her  excellenza's 
mother  was  a  Chevreaux,  and  my  mistress  spent  the  best 
years  of  her  life  with  her  mother's  sister,  who  during  the 
winter  lived  in  Paris.  It  was  in  the  reign  of  the  late 
King  Francis,  and  you  doubtless  know  that  this  great 
Prince  was  a  very  gallant  gentleman,  who  was  said  to 
have  broken  as  many  hearts  as  lances.  My  padrona, 
who  in  those  days  was  very  beautiful,  belonged  to  the 
ladies  of  his  court,  and  King  Francis,  especially  distin- 
guished her.  But  the  young  lady  knew  how  to  guard 
her  honor,  for  she  had  early  found  in  the  gallant  Mar- 
quis d'Avennes  a  knight  to  whom  she  was  loyally  de- 
voted, and  for  whom  she  had  wept  bitterly  many  a  night. 
Like  master,  like  servant,  and  though  the  marquis  had 
worn  the  young  lady's  color  for  years  and  rendered  her 
every  service  of  an  obedient  knight,  his  eyes  and  heart 
often  wandered  to  the  right  and  left.  Yet  he  always 
returned  to  his  liege-lady,  and  when  the  sixth  year  came, 
the  Chevreaux's  urged  the  marquis  to  put  an  end  to  his 
trifling  and  think  of  marriage.  My  mistress  began  to 
make  her  preparations,  and  Susanna  was  a  witness  of 
her  consultation  with  the  marquis  about  whether  she 
would  keep  or  sell  the  Holland  estates  and  castles.  But 
the  wedding  did  not  take  place,  for  the  marquis  was 
obliged  to  go  to  Italy  with  the  army  and  her  excellenza 
lived  in  perpetual  anxiety  about  him ;  at  that  time  the 
French  fared  ill  in  my  country,  and  he  often  left  her 
whole  months  without  news.  At  last  he  returned  and 
found  in  the  Chevreaux's  house  his  betrothed  wife's  little 
cousin,  who  had  grown  up  into  a  charming  young  lady. 
You  can  imagine  the  rest.  The  rose-bud  Hortense  now 
pleased  the  marquis  far  better  than  the  Holland  flower 


THE    BURGOMASTERS    WIFE.  131 

of  five  and  twenty.  The  Chevreaux's  were  aristocratic 
but  deeply  in  debt,  and  the  suitor,  while  fighting  in  Italy, 
had  inherited  the  whole  of  his  uncle's  great  estate,  so 
they  did  not  suffer  him  to  sue  in  vain.  My  mistress  re- 
turned to  Holland.  Her  father  challenged  the  marquis, 
but  no  blood  was  spilled  in  the  duel,  and  Monsieur 
d'Avennes  led  a  happy  wedded  life  with  Hortense  de 
Chevreaux.  Her  son  was  the  signorina's  hapless  lover. 
Do  you  understand,  Herr  Wilhelm  ?  She  had  nursed 
and  fostered  the  old  grudge  for  half  a  life  time ;  for  its 
sake  she  had  sacrificed  her  own  kinswoman  to  Don 
Luis,  but  in  return  she  repaid  by  the  death  of  the  only 
son  of  a  hated  mother,  the  sorrow  she  had  suffered  for 
years  on  her  account." 

The  musician  had  clenched  the  handkerchief,  with 
which  he  had  wiped  the  perspiration  from  his  brow, 
closely  in  his  hand,  and  asked : 

*'  What  more  have  you  heard  of  Anna  ?  " 

^'Very  little,"  replied  Belotti.  "Her  father  has 
torn  her  from  his  heart,  and  calls  Henrica  his  only 
daughter.  Happiness  abandons  those  who  are  bur- 
dened by  a  father's  curse,  and  she  certainly  did  not  find 
it.  Don  Luis  is  said  to  have  been  degraded  to  the 
rank*of  ensign  on  account  of  some  wild  escapades,  and 
who  knows  what  has  become  of  the  poor,  beautiful 
signorina.  The  padrona  sometimes  sent  money  to  her 
in  Italy,  by  way  of  Florence,  through  Signor  Lamperi — 
but  I  have  heard  nothing  of  her  during  the  last  few 
months." 

"  One  more  question,  Belotti,"  said  Wilhelm.  ''  How 
could  Henrica's  father  trust  her  to  your  mistress,  after 
what  had  befallen  his  older  daughter  in  her  house  ?  " 

''  Money — miserable  money !  To  keep  his  castle 
9* 


132  THE    BURGOMASTER'S    WIFE. 

and  not  lose  his  inheritance,  he  resigned  his  child.  Yes, 
sir,  the  signorina  was  bargained  for,  like  a  horse,  and 
her  father  didn't  sell  her  cheap.  Drink  some  wine,  sir^ 
you  look  ill." 

'^  It  is  nothing  serious,"  said  Wilhelm,  "  but  the  fresh 
air  will  probably  do  me  good.  Thanks  for  your  story, 
Belotti." 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

On  the  afternoon  of  the  sixteenth  of  May,  Burgo- 
master Van  der  Werff 's  wife  was  examining  chests  and 
boxes.  Her  husband  was  at  the  town-hall,  but  had 
told  her  that  towards  evening,  the  Prince's  commis- 
sioner, H err  Dietrich  Van  Bronkhorst,  the  two  Seigneurs 
von  Nordwyk,  the  city  clerk  Van  Hout,  and  several 
other  heads  of  municipal  affairs  and  friends  of  freedom 
would  meet  at  his  house  for  a  confidential  consultation. 
Maria  had  the  charge  of  providing  the  gentlemen  with 
a  nice  collation,  wine,  and  many  similar  cares. 

This  invitation  had  a  very  cheering  influence  on  the 
young  wife.  It  pleased  her  to  be  able  to  play  the  hostess, 
according  to  the  meaning  of  the  word  in  her  parents' 
house.  How  long  she  had  been  debarred  from  hearing 
any  grave,  earnest  conversation.  True,  there  had  been 
no  lack  of  visitors  :  the  friends  and  relatives  of  her  hus- 
band's family,  who  called  upon  her  and  talked  witli 
Barbara,  often  begged  her  to  come  to  their  houses; 
among  them  were  many  who  showed  themselves  kindly 
disposed  and  could  not  help  respecting  her  worth,  but 
not  one  to  whom  she  was  attracted  by  any  warm  affec- 


THE    BURGOMASTER  S    WIFE.  I33 

tion.  Maria,  whose  life  was  certainly  not  crowded  with 
amusements,  dreaded  their  coming,  and  when  they  did 
call,  endured  their  presence  as  an  unavoidable  evil.  The 
worthy  matrons  were  all  much  older  than  herself  and, 
while  sitting  over  their  cakes,  stewed  fruit,  and  hippocras, 
knitting,  spinning  or  netting,  talked  of  the  hard  times 
during  the  siege,  of  the  cares  of  children  and  servants, 
washing  and  soap-making,  or  subjected  to  a  rigid  scrutiny 
the  numerous  incomprehensible  and  reprehensible  acts 
other  women  were  said  to  have  committed,  to  be  com- 
mitting, or  to  desire  to  commit,  until  Maria's  heart  grew 
heavy  and  her  lonely  room  seemed  to  her  a  peaceful 
asylum. 

She  could  find  words  only  when  the  conversation 
turned  upon  the  misery  of  the  country  and  the  sacred 
duty  of  bearing  every  privation  a  second  time,  if  neces- 
sary for  the  freedom  of  the  nation,  and  then  she  gladly 
listened  to  the  sturdy  women,  who  evidently  meant 
what  they  said ;  but  when  the  hours  were  filled  with  idle 
gossip,  it  caused  her  actual  pain.  Yet  she  dared  not 
avoid  it  and  was  obhged  to  wait  until  the  departure  of 
the  last  acquaintance ;  for  after  she  had  ventured  to  re- 
tire early  several  times,  Barbara  kindly  warned  her 
against  it,  not  concealing  that  she  had  had  great  diflft- 
culty  in  defending  her  against  the  reproach  of  pride  and 
incivility. 

"Such  chat,"  said  the  widow,  "is  pleasant  and 
strengthens  the  courage,  and  whoever  leaves  the  visitors 
while  they  are  together,  can  pray  the  Lord  for  a  favor- 
able report." 

One  lady  in  Ley  den  pleased  the  burgomaster's  wife. 
This  was  the  wife  of  Herr  Van  Hout,  the  city  clerk, 
but  the  latter  rarely  appeared  in  company,  for  though  a 


134  THE    burgomaster's    WIFE. 

delicate,  aristocratic-looking  woman,  she  was  obliged  to 
be  busy  from  morning  till  night,  to  keep  the  children  and 
household  in  good  order  on  a  narrow  income. 

Maria  felt  brighter  and  happier  than  she  had  done 
for  many  days,  as  she  stood  before  the  shelf  that  con- 
tained the  table-furniture  and  the  cupboard  where  the 
silver  was  kept.  All  the  handsome  dishes  belonging  to 
the  house  were  bright  and  shining,  free  from  every  grain 
of  dust,  so  too  were  the  white  linen  cloths,  trimmed 
with  lace.  She  selected  what  she  needed,  but  many  of 
the  pewter,  glass,  and  silver  articles  did  not  please  her ; 
for  they  did  not  match,  and  she  found  scratches  and 
cracks  on  numerous  pieces. 

When  her  mother  had  begun  to  prepare  her  wedding- 
outfit,  Peter  expressed  a  desire  that  in  these  hard  times 
the  money  should  be  kept  and  no  useless  things  pur- 
chased. There  was  an  abundance  of  household  articles 
of  every  kind  in  his  home,  and  he  would  have  thought 
it  wrong  to  buy  even  a  plate.  In  fact  there  was  no  lack 
of  anything  on  the  shelves  and  cupboards,  but  she  had 
not  selected  and  bought  them  herself;  they  belonged  to 
her,  but  not  entirely,  and  what  was  worse,  her  eyes, 
accustomed  to  prettier  things,  could  find  no  pleasure  in 
these  dull,  scratched  pewter  plates,  these  pitchers,  cups 
and  tankards  painted  in  coarse  figures  with  glaring 
colors.  The  clumsy  glass,  too,  did  not  suit  her  taste, 
and,  while  looking  it  over  and  selecting  what  was  neces- 
sary, she  could  not  help  thinking  of  her  recently-wedded 
friends,  who,  with  sparkling  eyes,  had  showed  her  their 
spick-and-span  new  table-furniture  as  proudly  and  hap- 
pily, as  if  each  piece  had  been  their  own  work.  But, 
even  with  the  articles  she  possessed^  a  table  could  be 
set  very  prettily  and  daintily. 


THE    burgomaster's    WIFE.  I35 

She  had  gone  out  with  Adrian  before  dinner  to  cut 
some  flowers  in  the  garden  by  the  city  wall,  and  also 
gathered  some  delicate  grasses  in  the  meadow  before  the 
gate.  These  gifts  of  May  were  now  tastefully  arranged, 
mixed  with  peacock-feathers,  and  placed  in  vases,  and 
she  was  deHghted  to  see  even  the  clumsiest  dishes  win  a 
graceful  aspect  from  the  garlands  she  twined  around 
them.  Adrian  watched  her  in  astonishment.  He  would 
not  have  marvelled  if,  under  her  hands,  the  dark  dining- 
room  had  been  transformed  into  a  hall  of  mother-of- 
pearl  and  crystal. 

When  the  table  was  laid,  Peter  returned  home  for  a 
moment.  He  was  going  to  ride  out  to  Valkenburg  with 
Captain  Allertssohn,  Janus  Dousa,  and  other  gentlemen, 
to  inspect  the  fortifications  before  his  guests  appeared. 
As  he  passed  through  the  dining-room,  he  waved  his 
hand  to  his  wife  and  glancing  over  the  table,  said : 

*'  This  decoration  was  not  necessary,  least  of  all  the 
flowers.  We  expect  to  hold  a  serious  consultation,  and 
you  have  arranged  a  wedding-banquet." 

Perceiving  that  Maria  cast  down  her  eyes,  he  ex- 
claimed kindly : 

'^  But  it  can  remain  so  for  aught  I  care,"  and  left  the 
room. 

Maria  stood  irresolutely  before  her  work.  Bitter 
emotions  were  again  beginning  to  stir  in  her  mind,  and 
she  was  already  extending  her  hand  defiantly  towards 
one  particularly  beautiful  vase,  when  Adrian  raised  his 
large  eyes  to  her  face,  exclaiming  in  a  tone  of  earnest 
entreaty : 

^'  No,  mother,  you  mustn't  do  that,  it  looks  quite  too 
pretty." 

Maria    smiled,    passed    her   hand    over    the   boy's 


136  THE    burgomaster's    WIFE. 

curls,  took  two  cakes  from  a  dish,  gave  them  to  him, 
and  said : 

"One  for  you,  the  other  for  Bessie;  our  flowers 
shall  stay." 

Adrian  hurried  off  with  the  sweet  gifts,  but  Maria 
glanced  over  the  table  once  more,  saying : 

"  Peter  never  wants  anything  but  what  is  absolutely 
necessary ;  yet  that  surely  isn't  all,  or  God  would  have 
made  all  the  birds  with  grey  feathers." 

After  helping  Barbara  in  the  kitchen,  she  went  to 
her  own  room.  There  she  arranged  her  hair,  put  a 
fresh,  beautifully-starched  ruff  around  her  neck  and 
carefully-plaited  lace  in  the  open  bosom  of  her  dress, 
but  wore  her  every-day  gown,  for  her  husband  did 
not  wish  to  give  the  assembly  at  his  house  a  festal 
aspect. 

Just  as  she  had  put  the  last  gold  pin  in  her  hair,  and 
was  considering  whether  the  place  of  honor  at  the  table 
belonged  to  Herr  Van  Bronkhorst,  as  representative  of 
the  Prince,  or  to  the  older  Herr  von  Nordwyk,  Trautchen 
knocked  at  the  door  and  informed  her,  that  Doctor 
Bontius  wished  to  see  the  burgomaster  on  urgent  bus- 
iness. The  maid-servant  had  told  the  physician  that 
her  master  had  ridden  out,  but  he  would  not  be  put 
off,  and  asked  permission  to  see  her  mistress. 

Maria  instantly  went  to  Peter's  room.  The  doctor 
seemed  to  be  in  haste.  His  only  greeting  was  to  point 
with  the  gold  head  of  his  long  staff  towards  the  peaked 
black  hat,  that  never  left  his  head,  even  beside  the  sick- 
bed, and  asked  m  a  curt,  hurried  tone : 

"  When  will  Meister  Peter  come  home  ?" 

"  In  an  hour,"  replied  Maria.     "  Sit  down.  Doctor." 

"  Another  time.  It  will  keep  me  too  long  to  wait  for 


THE    burgomaster's    WIFE.  I37 

your  husband.  After  all,  you  can  come  with  me  even 
without  his  consent." 

"  Certainly ;  but  we  are  expecting  visitors." 

"  Yes.  If  I  find  time,  I  shall  come  too.  The  gentle- 
men can  do  without  me,  but  you  are  necessary  to  the 
sick  person  to  whom  I  wish  to  take  you." 

^'  I  have  no  idea  of  whom  you  are  speaking." 

^'  Haven't  you  ?  Then  once  more,  it  is  of  some  one 
who  is  suffering,  and  that  will  be  enough  for  you  at 
first." 

"  And  you  think  I  could — " 

^'  You  can  do  far  more  than  you  know.  Barbara  is 
attending  to  affairs  in  the  kitchen,  and  now  I  tell  you 
again  :  You  must  help  a  sufferer." 

''  But,  Doctor—" 

^'  I  must  beg  you  to  hurry,  for  my  time  is  limited. 
Do  you  wish  to  make  yourself  useful ;  yes  or  no  ?" 

The  door  of  the  dining-room  had  remained  open. 
Maria  again  glanced  at  the  table,  and  all  the  pleasures 
she  had  anticipated  this  evening  passed  through  her 
mind.  But  as  the  doctor  was  preparing  to  go,  she 
stopped  him,  saying  : 

'^  I  will  come." 

The  manners  of  this  blunt,  but  unselfish  and  clever 
man  were  familiar  to  Maria  who,  without  waiting  for  a 
reply,  brought  her  shawl,  and  led  the  way  downstairs. 
As  they  passed  by  the  kitchen,  Bontius  called  to 
Barbara  : 

^'Tell  Meister  Peter,  I  have  taken  his  wife  to  see 
Fraulein  Van  Hoogstraten  in  Nobelstrasse." 

Maria  could  scarcely  keep  up  with  the  doctor's  rapid 
strides  and  had  some  difficulty  in  understanding  him,  as  in 
broken  sentences  he  told  her  that  all  the  Clipper  friends 


138  THE    burgomaster's    WIFE.  J 

of  the  Hoogstraten  family  had  left  the  city,  the  old  ' 
Fraulein  was  dead,  the  servants  had  run  away  from  fear  ^ 
of  the  plague,  which  had  no  existence,  and  Henrica  was  I 
now  deserted.  She  had  been  very  ill  with  a  severe  fever,  'j 
but  was  much  better  during  the  past  few  days.  "  Mis-  ) 
fortune  has  taken  up  its  abode  in  the  Clipper  nest,"  he  ; 
added.  "  The  scythe-man  did  the  old  lady  a  favor  when  j 
he  took  her.  The  French  maid,  a  feeble  nonentity,  held  \ 
out  bravely,  but  after  watching  a  few  nights  broke  down  ' 
entirely  and  was  to  have  been  carried  to  St.  Catharine's  i 
hospital,  but  the  Italian  steward,  who  is  not  a  bad  fel-  i 
low,  objected  and  had  her  taken  to  a  Catholic  laundress.  ; 
He  has  followed  to  nurse  her.  No  one  is  left  in  the  de-  j 
serted  house  to  attend  to  the  young  lady,  except  Sister  1 
Gonzaga,  a  good  little  nun,  one  of  the  three  who  were| 
allowed  to  remain  in  the  old  convent  near  you,  but  early | 
this  morning,  to  cap  the  climax  of  misfortune,  the  kindf 
old  woman  scalded  her  fingers  while  heating  a  bath.l 
The  Catholic  priest  has  faithfully  remained  at  his  post,| 
but  what  can  we  men  do  in  nursing  the  sick  girl!  You| 
doubtless  now  suspect  why  I  brought  you  with  me.  You,;; 
ought  not  and  cannot  become  the  stranger's  nurse  per-| 
manently;  but  if  the  young  lady  is  not  to  sink  after  all, 
she  must  now  have  some  face  about  her  which  she  can 
love,  and  God  has  blessed  you  with  one.  Look  at  the 
sick  girl,  talk  with  her,  and  if  you  are  what  I  believe  | 
you — but  here  we  are."  | 

The  air  of  the  dark  entrance  hall  of  the  Hoogstraten  ! 
residence  was  filled  with  a  strong  odor  of  musk.  Thej 
old  lady's  death  had  been  instantly  announced  at  the  1 
town-hall  by  Doctor  Bontius'  representative,  and  an? 
armed  man  was  marching  up  and  down  in  the  hall,  | 
keeping  guard,  who  told  the  physician  that  Herr  Van  1^ 


THE    burgomaster's    WIFE.  1 39 

Hout  had  already  been  here  widi  his  men  and  put  seals 
on  all  the  doors. 

On  the  staircase  Maria  siezed  her  guide's  arm  in  ter- 
ror ;  for  through  an  open  door-way  of  the  second  story, 
to  which  she  was  ascending  with  her  companion,  she 
saw  in  the  dusk  a  shapeless  figure,  moving  strangely 
hither  and  thither,  up  and  down.  Her  tone  was  by  no 
means  confident  as,  pointing  towards  it  with  her  finger, 
she  asked  the  doctor : 

"  What  is  that  ?  " 

The  physician  had  paused  with  her,  and  seeing  the 
strange  object  to  which  the  burgomaster's  wife  pointed, 
recoiled  a  step  himself.  But  the  cool-headed  man  quickly 
perceived  the  real  nature  of  the  ghostly  apparition,  and 
leading  Maria  forward  exclaimed  smiling : 

''  What  in  the  world  are  you  doing  there  on  the 
floor.  Father  Damianus  ?  " 

"  I  am  scouring  the  boards,"  repHed  the  priest 
quietly. 

"  Right  is  right,"  cried  the  doctor  indignantly.  **  You 
are  too  good  for  maid-servant's  work.  Father  Damianus, 
especially  when  there  is  plenty  of  money  without  an 
owner  here  in  the  house,  and  we  can  find  as  many 
scrubbing-women  as  we  want  to-morrow." 

''  But  not  to-day,  doctor;  and  the  young  lady  won't 
stay  in  yonder  room  any  longer.  You  ordered  her  to 
go  to  sleep  yourself,  and  Sister  Gonzaga  says  she 
won't  close  her  eyes  so  long  as  she  is  next  door  to  the 
corpse." 

"  Then  Van  Hout's  men  ought  to  have  carried  her 
on  her  bed  into  the  old  lady's  beautiful  sitting-room." 

"  That's  sealed,  and  so  are  all  the  other  handsome 
chambers  on  this  story.     The  men  were  obliging  and 


140  THE    burgomaster's    WIFE.  I 

1 

tried  to  find  scrub-women,  but  the  poor  things  are  afraid  I 
of  the  plague."  \ 

"  Such  rumors  grow  hke  wire-grass,"  cried  the  doc-  \ 
tor.  ^Nobody  sows  it,  yet  who  can  uproot  it  when  it  is  j 
once  here  ?  "  \ 

"  Neither  you   nor   I,"   repHed   the   priest.      "The! 
young  lady  must  be  brought  into  this  room  at  once ; 
but  it  looked  neglected,  so  I've  just  set  it  to  rights.    It 
will  do  the  invalid  good,  and  the  exercise  can't  hurt  me.'* 

With  these  words  Father  Damianus  rose,  and  seeing] 
Maria,  said :  ! 

"  You  have  brought  a  new  nurse  ?     That's  right.     I  > 
need  not  praise  Sister  Gonzaga,  for  you  know  her;  but ' 
I  assure  you  Fraulein  Henrica  won't  allow  her  to  remain 
with  her  long,  and  I  shall  leave  this  house  as  soon  as 
the  funeral  is  over." 

"  You  have  done  your  duty ;  but  what  does  this 
news    about    the    Sister   mean  ? "    cried    the   physician 
angrily.     "  I'd  rather  have  your  old  Gonzaga  with  her^ 
burnt  fingers  than — What  has  happened  ?"  j 

The  priest  approached  and,  hastily  casting  a  side| 
glance  at  the  burgomaster's  wife,  exclaimed :  % 

"  She  speaks  through  her  nose,  and  Fraulein  Henrica | 
said  just  now  it  made  her  ache  to  hear  her  talk;  I  mustl 
keep  her  away."  1 

Doctor  Bontius  reflected  a  moment,  and  then  saidrl 

"  There  are  eyes  that  cannot  endure  a  glare  of  light,  ^ 
and  perhaps  certain  tones  may  seem  unbearable  to  irn-l 
tated  ears.  Frau  Van  der  Werif,  you  have  been  kept^ 
waiting  a  long  time,  please  follow  me."  | 

It  had  grown  dark.  The  curtains  of  the  sick-room  i 
were  lowered  and  a  small  lamp,  burning  behind  a  screen,  I 
shed  but  a  feeble  hght,  | 


THE    BURGOMASTER  S    WIFE.  I4I 

The  doctor  approached  the  bed,  felt  Henrica's  pulse^ 
said  a  few  words  in  a  low  tone  to  prepare  her  for  her 
visitor,  and  then  took  the  lamp  to  see  how  the  invalid 
looked. 

Maria  now  beheld  a  pale  face  with  regular  outline, 
whose  dark  eyes,  in  their  size  and  lustre,  formed  a  strik- 
ing contrast  to  the  emaciated  cheeks  and  sunken  feat- 
ures of  the  sick  girl. 

3       After  old  Sister  Gonzaga  had  restored  the  lamp  to 
its  former  place,  the  physician  said ; 

"  Excellent !  Now,  Sister,  go  and  change  the  band- 
age on  your  arm  and  lie  down.'*  Then  he  beckoned 
Maria  to  approach. 

Henrica's  face  made  a  strange  impression  upon  the 
burgomaster's  wife.  She  thought  her  beautiful,  but  the 
large  eyes  and  firmly-shut  lips  seemed  peculiar,  rather 
than  attractive.  Yet  she  instantly  obeyed  the  physician's 
summons,  approached  the  bed,  said  kindly  that  she  had 
been  glad  to  come  to  stay  with  her  a  short  time,  and 
asked  what  she  desired. 

At  these  words,  Henrica  raised  herself  and  with  a 
sigh  of  relief,  exclaimed : 

"  That  does  me  good  1  Thanks,  Doctor.  That's  a 
human  voice  again.  If  you  want  to  please  me,  Frau 
Van  der  Werff,  keep  on  talking,  no  matter  what  you  say. 
I  Please  come  and  sit  down  here.  With  Sister  Gonzaga's 
hands,  your  voice,  and  the  doctor's — yes,  I  will  say  with 
Doctor  Bontius'  candor,  it  won't  be  difficult  to  recover 
entirely." 

"  Good,   good,"  murmured  the  physician.     ^^  Kind 

I  Sister  Gonzaga's  injuries  are  not  serious  and  she  will  stay 

with  you,  but  when  it  is  time  for  you  to  sleep,  you  will 

i  be  moved  elsewhere.      You  can  remain  liere  an  hour^ 


I 

142  THE    burgomaster's    WIFE.  I 

1 

Frau  Van  der  Werff,  but  that  will  be  enough  for  to-day.  \ 
I'll  go  to  your  house  and  send  the  servant  for  you| 
with  a  lantern."  .| 

When  the  two  ladies  were  left  alone  together,  Maria 'I 
said :  ^ 

"  You  set  great  value  on  the  sound  of  voices ;  so  do.^ 
I,  perhaps  more  than  is  desirable.  True,  I  have  never!^ 
had  any  serious  illness — "  i? 

"  This  is  my  first  one  too,"  replied  Henrica,  '^  but  I  ! 
know  now  what  it  is  to  be  compelled  to  submit  to  every- jj 
thing  we  don't  like,  and  feel  with  two-fold  keenness  '■ 
everything  that  is  repulsive.  It  is  better  to  die  than.i 
suffer."  J 

"  Your  aunt  is  dead,"  said  Maria  sympathizingly. 

"  She  died  early  this  morning.  We  had  little  in  com- 5; 
men  save  the  tie  of  blood."  ^| 

"  Are  your  parents  no  longer  living  ?"  ?! 

"  Only  my  father;  but  what  of  that  ?"  | 

"  He  will  rejoice  over  your  recovery;  Doctor  Bon-,^ 
tius  says  you  will  soon  be  perfectly  well."  *! 

^' I  think  so  too,"  replied  Henrica  confidently,  and| 
then  said  softly,  without  heeding  Maria's  presence:! 
"  There  is  one  beautiful  thing.  When  I  am  well  again, } 
I  shall  once  more — Do  you  practise  music?"  | 

"  Yes,  dear  Fraulein."  I 

"Not  merely  as  a  pastime,  but  because  you  feel  youq 
cannot  live  without  it  ?"  | 

"  You  must  keep  quiet,  Fraulein.  Music  ; — yes,  I  '■ 
think  my  life  would  be  far  poorer  without  it  than  it  is. "  •! 

"  Do  you  sing  ?  " 

"Very  seldom  here;  but  when  a  girl  in  Delft  we;; 
sung  every  day."  | 

"  Of  course  you  were  the  soprano  ?  "  {! 

I 


THE    BURGOMASTER  S    WIFE.  143 

'^  Yes,  Fraulein." 

"  Let  the  Fraulein  drop,  and  call  me  Henrica." 

''  With  all  my  heart,  if  you  will  call  me  Maria,  or 
Frau  Maria." 

"  I'll  try.  Don't  you  think  we  could  practise  many  a 
song  together  ?  " 

Just  as  these  words  were  uttered.  Sister  Gonzaga 
entered  the  room,  saying  that  the  wife  of  Receiver  Gen- 
eral Cornelius  had  called  to  ask  if  she  could  do  anything 
for  the  sick  lady. 

"  What  does  that  mean  ? "  asked  Henrica  angrily. 
<'  I  don't  know  the  woman." 

"  She  is  the  mother  of  Herr  Wilhelm,  the  musician," 
jsaid  the  young  wife. 

j       "  Oh !"  exclaimed   Henrica.      "  Shall  I  admit  her, 
I  Maria  ?" 

The  latter  shook  her  head  and  answered  firmly  : 

'^  No,  Fraulein  Henrica.       It  is  not  good  for  you  to 
I  have  more  than  one  visitor  at  this  hour,  and  besides — " 
'       ''  Well  ?" 

^'  She  is  an  excellent  woman,  but  I  fear  her  blunt 
manner,  heavy  step,  and  loud  voice  would  not  benefit 
you  just  now.  Let  me  go  to  her  and  ask  what  she  desires." 

"  Receive  her  kindly,  and  tell  her  to  remember  me  to 
her  son.  -  I  am  not  very  delicate,  but  I  see  you  under- 
stand me;  such  substantial  fare  would  hardly  suit  me 
just  now." 

After  Maria  had  performed  her  errand  and  talked 
with  Henrica  for  a  time,  Frau  Van  Hout  was  announced. 
Her  husband,  who  had  been  present  when  the  doors  of 
the  house  of  death  were  sealed,  had  told  her  about  the 
invalid  and  she  came  to  see  if  the  poor  girl  needed  any- 
thing. 


144  THE  burgomaster's  wife. 

"You  might  receive  her,"  said  Maria,  "for  she  would c, 
surely  please  you;  but  the  bell  is  ringing  again,  and  you  5 
have  talked  enough  for  to-day.  Try  to  sleep  now.  I'll  | 
go  home  with  Frau  Van  Hout  and  come  again  to-mor-  ; 
row,  if  agreeable  to  you."  ■ 

"  Come,  pray  come !"  exclaimed  the  young  girl.  "  Doi 
you  want  to  say  anything  more  to  me  ?"  ; 

"  I  should  like  to  do  so,  Fraulein  Henrica.  You ' 
ought  not  to  stay  in  this  sad  house.  There  is  plenty  of  1 
room  in  ours.  Will  you  be  our  guest  until  your'i 
fkther^"  I 

"Yes,  take  me  home  with  you!"  cried  the  invalid,] 
tears  sparkling  in  her  eyes.  "  Take  me  away  from  here,] 
only  take  me  away — and  I  will  be  grateful  to  you  alls 
my  life."  x 


CHAPTER  XIV.  I 

Maria  had  not  mounted  the  stairs  so  joyously  for  j 
weeks  as  she  did  to-day.  She  would  have  sung,  had  it ' 
been  seemly,  though  she  felt  a  little  anxious ;  for  per- 1 
haps  her  husband  would  not  think  she  had  done  right  to  I 
invite,  on  her  own  authority,  a  stranger,  especially  a  sick  j 
stranger,  who  was  a  friend  of  Spain,  to  be  their  guest.  ; 

As  she  passed  the  dining-room,  she  heard  the  gentle-  J 
men  consulting  together.  Then  Peter  began  to  speak,  i 
She  noticed  the  pleasant  depth  of  his  voice,  and  said  to  I 
herself  that  Henrica  would  like  to  hear  it.  A  few  ' 
minutes  after  she  entered  the  apartment,  to  greet  her  i 
husband's  guests,  who  were  also  hers.  Joyous  excite- 1 
ment  and  the  rapid  walk  through  the  air  of  the  May  1 


THE    BURGOMASTERS    WIFE.  145 

evening,  which,  though  the  day  had  been  warm,  was  still 
cool,  had  flushed  her  cheeks  and,  as  she  modestly 
crossed  the  threshold  with  a  respectful  greeting,  which 
nevertheless  plainly  revealed  the  pleasure  afforded  by 
the  visit  of  such  guests,  she  looked  so  winning  and 
lovely,  that  not  a  single  person  present  remained  un« 
moved  by  the  sight.  The  older  Herr  Van  der  Does 
clapped  Peter  on  the  shoulder  and  then  struck  the  palm 
of  his  hand  with  his  fist,  as  if  to  say :  "  I  won't  ques^ 
tion  that !"  Janus  Dousa  whispered  gaily  to  Van 
Hout,  who  was  a  good  Latin  scholar : 

*'  Oculi  sunt  in  amore  duces y 

Captain  Allertssohn  started  up  and  raised  his  hand 
to  his  hat  with  a  military  salute;  Van  Bronkhorst,  the 
Prince's  Commissioner,  gave  expression  to  his  feelings 
in  a  courtly  bow.  Doctor  Bontius  smiled  contentedly^ 
like  a  person  who  has  successfully  accomplished  a  haz- 
ardous enterprise,  and  Peter  proudly  and  happily  strove 
to  attract  his  wife's  attention  to  himself.  But  this  was 
not  to  be,  for  as  soon  as  Maria  perceived  that  she  was 
the  mark  for  so  many  glances,  she  lowered  her  eyes  with 
a  deep  blush,  and  then  said  far  more  firmly  than  would 
have  been  expected  from  her  timid  manner : 

"  Welcome,  gentlemen !  My  greeting  comes  late,  but 
I  would  have  gladly  offered  it  earlier." 

"  I  can  bear  witness  to  that,"  cried  Doctor  Bontius, 
rising  and  shaking  hands  with  Maria  more  cordially  than 
ever  before.  Then  he  motioned  towards  Peter,  and  ex- 
claimed to  the  assembled  guests  :  "  Will  you  excuse  the 
burgomaster  for  a  moment  ?" 

As  soon  as  he  stood  apart  with  the  husband  and 
wife  at  the  door,  he  began  : 

"  You  have  invited  a  new  visitor  to  the  house,  Frau 


146  THE    burgomaster's    WIFE.  j 

Van  der  AVerff;  I  won't  drink  another  drop  of  Malmsey,  j 

if  I'm  mistaken."  ■ 

"  How  do  you  know  ?"  asked  Maria  gaily.  ^ 

"  I  see  it  in  your  face."  ^ 

"And  the  young  lady  shall  be  cordially  welcome  toj 

me,"  added  Peter.  ,; 

"Then  you  know?"  asked  Maria.  j 

"The  doctor  did  not  conceal  his  conjecture  fromj 

me."  ,j 

"Why  yes,  the  sick  girl  will  be  glad  to  come  to  us,; 

and  to-morrow — " 

"  No,  I'll  send  for  her  to-day,"  interrupted  Peter.        • 

"To-day?"  But  dear  me!     It's  so  late;    perhaps! 

she  is  asleep,  the  gentlemen  are  here,  and  our  spare  : 

bed  — "  exclaimed  Maria,  glancing  disapprovingly  and^ 

irresolutely  from  the  physician  to  her  husband.  : 

"  Calm  yourself,  child,"  replied  Peter.     "  The  doc-  • 

tor  has  ordered  a  covered  litter  from   St.   Catharine's  J 

hospital,   Jan    and    one  of    the    city-guard    will    carry ; 

her,   and   Barbara    has    nothing    more    to    do    in   the  ] 

kitchen    and   is  now  preparing  her  own  chamber  for  ; 

her."  .  : 

"And,"  chimed  in  the  physician,  "perhaps  the  sick  \ 

girl  may  find  sleep  here.     Besides,  it  will  be  far  more  ; 

agreeable  to  her  pride  to  be  carried  through  the  streets  ] 

unseen,  under  cover  of  the  darkness."  \ 

"  Yes,  yes,"  said  Maria  sadly,  "  that  may  be  so  ;  but . 

I  had  been  thinking  —  People  ought  not^  to  do  anything  j 

too  hastily."  \ 

"  Will  you  be  glad  to  receive  the  young  lady  as  a  i 

guest  ?"  asked  Peter.  ) 

"  Why,  certainly."  j 

"  Then  we  won't  do  things  by  halves,  but  show  her  ; 


THE    burgomaster's    WIFE.  1 47 

all  the  kindness  in  our  power.  There  is  Barbara  beck- 
oning; the  litter  has  come,  Doctor.  Guide  the  noc- 
turnal procession  in  God's  name,  but  don't  keep  us 
waiting  too  long." 

The  burgomaster  returned  to  his  seat,  and  Bontius 
left  the  room. 

Maria  followed  him.  In  the  entry,  he  laid  his  hand 
on  her  arm  and  asked : 

"  Will  you  know  next  time,  what  I  expect  from 
you  ?" 

'^  No,"  replied  the  burgomaster's  wife,  in  a  tone 
which  sounded  gay,  though  it  revealed  the  disappoint- 
ment she  felt ;  ''  no — but  you  have  taught  me  that  you 
are  a  man  who  understands  how  to  spoil  one's  best 
pleasures." 

"  I  will  procure  you  others,"  replied  the  doctor 
laughing  and  descended  the  stairs.  He  was  Peter's 
oldest  friend,  and  had  made  many  objections  to  the 
burgomaster's  marriage  with  a  girl  so  many  years  his 
junior,  in  these  evil  times,  but  to-day  he  showed  himself 
satisfied  with  Van  der  Werff 's  choice. 

Maria  returned  to  the  guests,  filled  and  offered 
glasses  of  wine  to  the  gentl^en,  and  then  went  to  her 
sister-in-law's  room,  to  help  her  prepare  everything  for 
the  sick  girl  as  well  as  possible.  She  did  not  do  so 
unwillingly,  but  it  seemed  as  if  she  would  have  gone 
to  the  work  with  far  greater  pleasure  early  the  next 
morning. 

Barbara's  spacious  chamber  looked  out  upon  the 
court-yard.  No  sound  could  be  heard  there  of  the 
conversation  going  on  between  the  gentlemen  in  the 
dining-room,  yet  it  was  by  no  means  quiet  among  these 
men  who,  though  animated  by  the  same  purpose,  differed 


148  THE    burgomaster's    WIFE. 

widely  about  the  ways  and  means  of  bringing  it  to  a 
successful  issue. 

There  they  sat,  the  brave  sons  of  a  litde  nation,  the 
stately  leaders  of  a  small  community,  poor  in  numbers 
and  means  of  defence,  which  had  undertaken  to  bid 
defiance  to  the  mightiest  power  and  finest  armies  of  its 
age.  They  knew  that  the  storm-clouds,  which  had  been 
threatening  for  weeks  on  the  horizon,  would  rise  faster 
and  faster,  mass  together,  and  burst  in  a  furious  tempest 
over  Leyden,  for  Herr  Van  der  Werff  had  summoned 
them  to  his  house  because  a  letter  addressed  to  himself 
and  Commissioner  Van  Bronkhorst  by  the  Prince,  con- 
tained tidings,  that  the  Governor  of  King  Philip  of 
Spain  had  ordered  Sefior  del  Campo  Valdez  to  besiege 
Leyden  a  second  time  and  reduce  it  to  subjection. 
They  were  aware,  that  William  of  Orange  could  not 
raise  an  army  to  divert  the  hostile  troops  from  their  aim 
or  relieve  the  city  before  the  lapse  of  several  months ; 
they  had  experienced  how  little  aid  was  to  be  expected 
from  the  Queen  of  England  and  the  Protestant  Princes 
of  Germany,  while  the  horrible  fate  of  Haarlem,  a  neigh- 
boring and  more  powerful  city,  rose  as  a  menacing 
example  before  their  eyes^  But  they  were  conscious  of 
serving  a  good  cause,  relied  upon  the  faith,  courage  and 
statesmanship  of  Orange,  were  ready  to  die  rather  than 
allow  themselves  to  be  enslaved  body  and  soul  by  the 
Spanish  tyrant.  Their  behef  in  God's  justice  was  deep 
and  earnest,  and  each  individual  possessed  a  joyous 
confidence  in  his  own  resolute,  manly  strength. 

In  truth,  the  men  who  sat  around  the  table,  so 
daintily  decked  with  flowers  by  a  woman's  hand,  under- 
stood how  to  empty  the  large  fluted  goblets  so  nim- 
bly, that  jug  after  jug  of  Peter's  Malmsey  and  Rhine 


THE    BURGOMASTERS    WIFE.  I49 

wine  were  brought  up  from  the  cellar,  the  men  who 
made  breaches  in  the  round  pies  and  huge  joints  of 
meat,  juicier  and  more  nourishing  than  any  country  ex- 
cept theirs  can  furnish — did  not  look  as  if  pallid  fear 
had  brought  them  together. 

The  hat  is  the  sign  of  liberty,  and  the  free  man  keeps 
his  hat  on.  So  some  of  the  burgomaster's  guests  sat  at 
the  board  with  covered  heads,  and  how  admirably  the 
high  plaited  cap  of  dark-red  velvet,  with  its  rich  orna- 
ments of  plumes,  suited  the  fresh  old  face  of  the  senior 
Seigneur  of  Nordwyk  and  the  clever  countenance  of  his 
nephew  Janus  Dousa ;  how  well  the  broad-brimmed  hat 
with  blue  and  orange  ostrich-feathers — the  colors  of  the 
House  of  Orange — became  the  waving  locks  of  the  young 
Seigneur  of  Warmond,  Jan  Van  Duivenvoorde.  How 
strongly  marked  and  healthful  were  the  faces  of  the  other 
men  assembled  here !  Few  countenances  lacked  ruddy 
color,  and  strong  vitality,  clear  intellect,  immovable  will 
and  firm  resolution  flashed  from  many  blue  eyes 
around^ the  table.  Even  the  black-robed  magistrates, 
whose  plaited  ruffs  and  high  white  collars  were  very  be- 
coming, did  not  look  as  if  the  dust  of  documents  had 
injured  their  health.  The  moustaches  and  beards  on  the 
lips  of  each,  gave  them  also  a  manly  appearance.  They 
were  all  joyously  ready  to  sacrifice  themselves  and  their 
property  for  a  great  spiritual  prize,  yet  looked  as  if  they 
had  a  firm  foothold  in  the  midst  of  life ;  their  hale,  sen- 
sible faces  showed  no  traces  of  enthusiasm  ;  only  the 
young  Seigneur  of  Warmond's  eyes  sparkled  with  a 
touch  of  this  feeling,  while  Janus  Dousa's  glance  often 
seemed  turned  within,  to  seek  things  hidden  in  his  own 
heart;  and  at  such  moments  his  sharply-cut,  irregular 
features  possessed  a  strange  charm. 


150  THE    burgomaster's    WIFE. 

The  broad,  stout  figure  of  Commissioner  Van 
Bronkhorst  occupied  a  great  deal  of  room.  His  body- 
was  by  no  means  agile,  but  from  the  round,  closely- 
shaven  head  looked  forth  a  pair  of  prominent  eyes,  that 
expressed  unyielding  resolution. 

The  brightly-lighted  table,  around  which  such  guests 
had  gathered,  presented  a  gay,  magnificent  spectacle. 
The  yellow  leather  of  the  doublets  worn  by  Junker  von 
Warmond,  Colonel  Mulder,  and  Captain  Allertssohn,  the 
colored  silk  scarfs  that  adorned  them,  and  the  scarlet 
coat  of  brave  Dirk  Smaling  contrasted  admirably  with 
the  deep  black  robes  of  Pastor  Verstroot,  the  burgo- 
master, the  city  clerk,  and  their  associates !  The  violet 
of  the  commissioner's  dress  and  the  dark  hues  of  the 
fur-bordered  surcoats  worn  by  the  elder  Herr  Van  der 
Does  and  Herr  Van  Montfort  blended  pleasandy  and 
harmonized  the  light  and  dark  shades.  Everything 
sorrowful  seemed  to  have  been  banished  far  from  this 
brilHant,  vigorous  round  table,  so  words  flowed  freely 
and  voices  sounded  full  and  strong  enough. 

Danger  was  close  at  hand.  The  Spanish  vanguard 
might  appear  before  Leyden  any  day.  Many  prepara- 
tions were  made.  English  auxiHaries  were  to  garrison 
the  fortifications  of  Alfen  and  defend  the  Gouda  lock. 
The  defensive  works  of  Valkenburg  had  been  strength- 
ened and  entrusted  to  other  British  troops,  the  city 
soldiers,  the  militia  and  volunteers  were  admirably 
drilled.  They  did  not  wish  to  admit  foreign  troops 
within  the  walls,  for  during  the  first  siege  they  had 
proved  far  more  troublesome  than  useful,  and  there  was 
little  reason  to  fear  that  a  city  guarded  by  water,  walls 
and  trees  would  be  taken  by  storm. 

What  most  excited  the  gentlemen  was  the  news  Van 


THE    BURGOMASTERS    WIFE.  151 

Hout  had  brought.  Rich  Herr  Baersdorp,  one  of  the 
four  burgomasters,  who  had  the  largest  grain  business 
in  Leyden,  had  undertaken  to  purchase  considerable 
quantities  of  bread-stuffs  in  the  name  of  the  city. 
Several  ship  loads  of  wheat  and  rye  had  been  delivered 
by  him  the  day  before,  but  he  v/as  still  in  arrears  with 
three-quarters  of  what  was  ordered.  He  openly  said 
that  he  had  as  yet  given  no  positive  orders  for  it„ 
because  owing  to  the  prospect  of  a  good  harvest,  a  fall 
in  the  price  of  grain  was  expected  in  the  exchanges  of 
Rotterdam  and  Amsterdam,  and  he  would  still  have 
several  weeks  time  before  the  commencement  of  the 
new  blockade. 

Van  Hout  Avas  full  of  indignation,  especially  as  two 
out  of  the  four  burgomasters  sided  with  their  colleague 
Baersdorp. 

The  elder  Herr  von  Nordvvyk  agreed  with  him,  ex- 
claiming : 

"  With  all  due  respect  to  your  dignity,  Herr  Peter,, 
your  three  companions  in  office  belong  to  the  ranks  of 
bad  friends,  who  would  willingly  be  exchanged  for  open 
enemies." 

"  Herr  von  Noyelles,"  said  Colonel  Mulder,  "  has 
written  about  them  to  the  Prince,  the  good  and  truthful 
words,  that  they  ought  to  be  sent  to  the  gallows." 

**  And  they  will  suit  them,"  cried  Captam  Allertssohn, 
"  so  long  as  hangmen's  nooses  and  traitors'  necks  are 
made  for  each  other." 

''  Traitors — no,"  said  Van  der  Werff  resolutely. 
"  Call  them  cowards,  call  them  selfish  and  base-minded 
— ^but  not  one  of  them  is  a  Judas." 

"  Right,  Meister  Peter,  that  they  certainly  are  not,  and 
perhaps  even  cowardice  has  nothmg  to  do  with  their  con- 


152  THE    burgomaster's    WIFE. 

duct,"  added  Herr  von  Nordwyk.  "  Whoever  has  eyes 
to  see  and  ears  to  hear,  knows  the  views  of  the  gentle- 
men belonging  to  the  old  city  families,  who  are  reared 
from  infancy  as  future  magistrates;  and  I  speak  not 
only  of  Leyden,  but  the  residents  of  Gouda  and  Delft, 
Rotterdam  and  Dortrecht.  Among  a  hundred,  sixty 
would  bear  the  Spanish  yoke,  even  do  violence  to  con- 
■science,  if  only  their  liberties  and  rights  were  guaranteed. 
The  cities  must  rule  and  they  themselves  in  them ;  that 
is  all  they  desire.  Whether  people  preach  sermons  or 
read  mass  in  the  church,  whether  a  Spaniard  or  a  Hol- 
lander rules,  is  a  matter  of  secondary  importance  to 
them.  I  except  the  present  company,  for  you  would  not 
be  here,  gentlemen,  if  your  views  were  similar  to  those 
of  the  men  of  whom  I  speak." 

'^  Thanks  for  those  words,"  said  Dirk  Smaling,  "  but 
with  all  due  honor  to  your  opinion,  you  have  painted 
matters  in  too  dark  colors.  May  I  ask  if  the  nobles  do 
not  also  cling  to  their  rights  and  liberties  ?" 

^^  Certainly,  Herr  Dirk ;  but  they  are  commonly  ot 
longer  date  than  yours,"  replied  Van  Bronkhorst.  ''  The 
nobleman  needs  a  ruler.  He  is  a  lustreless  star,  if  the 
sun  that  lends  him  light  is  lacking.  I,  and  with  me  all 
the  nobles  who  have  sworn  fealty  to  him,  now  believe 
that  our  sun  must  and  can  be  no  other  person  than  the 
Prince  of  Orange,  who  is  one  of  ourselves,  knows,  loves, 
and  understands  us;  not  Philip,  who  has  no  comprehen- 
sion of  what  is  passing  within  and  around  us,  is  a  for- 
eigner and  detests  us.  We  will  uphold  William  with  our 
fortunes  and  our  lives  for,  as  I  have  already  said,  vve 
need  a  sun,  that  is,  a  monarch — but  the  cities  think  they 
have  power  to  shine  and  wish  to  be  admired  as  bright 
stars  themselves.  True,  they  feel  that,  in  these  troublous 


THE    BURGOMASTERS    WIFE.  1 53 

times,  the  country  needs  a  leader,  and  that  they  can  find 
no  better,  wiser  and  more  faithful  one  than  Orange;  but 
if  it  comes  to  pass — and  may  God  grant  it — that  the 
Spanish  yoke  is  broken,  the  noble  William's  rule  will  seem 
wearisome,  because  they  enjoy  playing  sovereign  them- 
selves. In  short :  the  cities  etidiire  a  ruler,  the  nobles 
gather  7'ound  hiin  and  need  him.  No  real  good  will  be 
accomplished  until  noble,  burgher  and  peasant  cheerfully 
yield  to  him,  and  unite  to  battle  under  his  leadership  for 
the  highest  blessings  of  life." 

"  Right,"  said  Van  Hout.  ''  The  well-disposed 
nobility  may  well  serve  as  an  example  to  the  governing 
classes  here  and  in  the  other  cities,  but  the  people,  the 
poor  hard-working  people,  know  what  is  coming  and, 
thank  God,  have  not  yet  lost  a  hearty  love  for  what 
you  call  the  highest  blessings  of  life.  They  wish  to  be 
and  remain  Hollanders,  curse  the  Spanish  butchers  with 
eloquent  hatred,  desire  to  serve  God  according  to  the 
yearning  of  their  own  souls,  and  believe  what  their  own 
hearts  dictate — and  these  men  call  the  Prince  their 
Father  William.  Wait  a  litde !  As  soon  as  trouble  op- 
presses us,  the  poor  and  lowly  will  stand  firm,  if  the  rich 
and  great  waver  and  deny  the  good  cause." 

"They  are  to  be  trusted,"  said  Van  der  Werff, 
'^  firmly  trusted." 

"  And  because  I  know  them,"  cried  Van  Hout,  "  we 
shall  conquer,  with  God's  assistance,  come  what  may." 

Janus  Dousa  had  been  looking  into  his  glass.  Now 
he  raised  his  head  and  with  a  hasty  gesture,  said : 

"  Strange  that  those  who  toil  for  existence  with  their 
hands,  and  whose  uncultured  brains  only  move  when 
their  daily  needs  require  it,  are  most  ready  to  sacrifice 
the  little  they  possess,  for  spiritual  blessings." 


154  THE    BURGOMASTERS    WIFE. 

"  Yes,"  said  the  pastor,  "  the  kmgdom  of  heaven 
stands  open  to  the  simple-hearted.  It  is  strange  that 
the  poor  and  unlearned  value  religion,  liberty  and  their 
native  land  far  more  than  the  perishable  gifts  of  this 
world,  the  golden  calf  around  which  the  generations 
throng." 

"  My  companions  are  not  flattered  to-day,"  replied 
Dirk  Smaling ;  ^'  but  I  beg  you  to  remember  in  our 
favor,  that  we  are  playing  a  great  and  dangerous  game, 
and  property-holders  must  supply  the  lion's  share  of  the 
stake." 

"  By  no  means,"  retorted  Van  Hout,  "  the  highest 
stake  for  which  the  die  will  be  cast  is  life,  and  this  has 
the  same  value  to  rich  and  poor.  Those  who  will  hold 
back  —  I  think  I  know  them — have  no  plain  motto  or 
sign,  but  a  proud  escutcheon  over  their  doors.  Let  us 
wait." 

"  Yes,  let  us  wait,"  said  Van  der  Werff ;  "  but  there 
are  more  important  matters  to  be  considered  now.  Day 
after  to-morrow  will  be  Ascension  Day,  when  the  bells 
will  ring  for  the  great  fair.  More  than  one  foreign 
trader  and  traveller  has  passed  through  the  gates  yester- 
day and  the  day  before.  Shall  we  order  the  booths  to 
be  set  up,  or  have  the  fair  deferred  until  some  other 
time?  If  the  enemy  hastens  his  march,  there  will  be 
great  confusion,  and  we  shall  perhaps  throw  a  rich  prize 
into  his  hands.  Pray  give  me  your  opinion,  gentle- 
men." 

''The  traders  ought  to  be  protected  from  loss  and 
the  fair  postponed,"  said  Dirk  Smaling. 

''  No,"  repHed  Van  Hout,  "  for  if  this  prohibition  is 
issued,  we  shall  deprive  the  small  merchants  of  consid- 
erable profit  and  prematurely  damp  their  courage." 


THE    burgomaster's  V\^E^»fN,    ^  y.   \ 

''  Let  them  have  their  festival,"  cH^^^i^^ofllsgL.  ' 
"  We  mustn't  do  coming  trouble  the  favor^^  spoilinj^ 
the  happy  present  on  its  account.  If  you  vV^^^Tlpiact  ^ 
wisely,  follow  the  advice  of  Horace."  --fZL.^ 

''  The  Bible  also  teaches  that  '  sufficient  unto  the 
day  is  the  evil  thereof,' "  added  the  pastor,  and  Captain 
Allertssohn  exclaimed  : 

*'  On  my  Hfe,  yes !  My  soldiers,  the  city-guard  and 
volunteers  must  have  their  parade.  Marching  in  full 
uniform,  with  all  their  weapons,  while  beautiful  eyes 
smile  upon  them,  the  old  wave  greetings,  and  children 
run  before  with  exultant  shouts,  a  man  learns  to  feel 
himself  a  soldier  for  the  first  time." 

So  it  was  determined  to  let  the  fair  be  held.  While 
other  questions  were  being  eagerly  discussed,  Henrica 
found  a  loving  welcome  in  Barbara's  pleasant  room. 
When  she  had  fallen  asleep,  Maria  went  back  to  her 
guests,  but  did  not  again  approach  the  table;  for  the 
gentlemen's  cheeks  were  flushed  and  they  were  no 
longer  speaking  in  regular  order,  but  each  was  talking 
about  whatever  he  choose.  The  burgomaster  was  dis- 
cussing with  Van  Hout  and  Van  Bronkhorst  the  means 
of  procuring  a  supply  of  grain  for  the  city,  Janus 
Dousa  and  Herr  von  Warmond  were  speaking  of  the 
poem  the  city  clerk  had  repeated  at  the  last  meeting  of 
the  poets'  club,  Herr  Van  der  Does  senior  and  the 
pastor  were  arguing  about  the  new  rules  of  the  church, 
and  stout  Captain  Allertssohn,  before  whom  stood  a 
huge  drinking-horn  drained  to  the  dregs,  had  leaned  his 
forehead  on  Colonel  Mulder's  shoulder  and,  as  usual 
when  he  felt  particularly  happy  over  his  wine,  was 
shedding  tears. 


156  THE    burgomaster's    WIFE. 


CHAPTER   XV. 

! 
I 

i 

The  next  day  after  the  meeting  of  the  council,  : 
Burgomaster  Van  der  Werff,  Herr  Van  Hout,  and  a.i 
notary,  attended  by  two  constables,  went  to  Nobelstrasse  I 
to  set  old  Fraulein  Van  Hoogstraten's  property  in  order.  • 
The  fathers  of  the  city  had  determined  to  seize  the  j 
Clippers'  abandoned  dwellings  and  apply  the  property  • 
found  in  them  to  the  benefit  of  the  common  cause.  \ 

The  old  lady's  hostility  to  the  patriots  was  known  to  \ 
all,  and  as  her  nearest  relatives,  Herr  Van  Hoogstraten  j 
and  Matanesse  Van  Wibisma,  liad  been  banished  from  | 
Ley  den,  the  duty  of  representing  the  heirs  fell  upon  the  i 
city.      It    was   to    be   expected    that    only    notorious 
Clippers  would  be  remembered  in  the  dead  woman's  j 
will,  and  if  this  was  the  case,  the  revenue   from  the  1 
personal  and  real  estate  would  fall  to  the  city,  until  the  • 
deserters  mended  their  ways,  and  adopted  a  course  of  ; 
conduct  that  would   permit  the   magistrates   to  again  i 
open  their  gates  to  them.     Whoever  continued  to  cling  j 
to  the  Spaniards  and  oppose  the  cause  of  hberty,  would  : 
forfeit  his  share  of  the  inheritance.      This  was  no  new  I 
procedure.    King  Philip  had  taught  its  practice,  nay  not  ■ 
only  the  estates  of  countless  innocent  persons  who  had  \ 
been  executed,  banished  or  gone  into  voluntary  exile  | 
for  the  sake  of  the  new  religion,  but  also  the  property 
of  good  Catholic  patriots  had  been  confiscated  for  his 
benefit.      After  being  anvil  so  many  years,  it  is  pleasant 
to  play  hammer;  and  if  that  was  not  always  done  in  a 
proper  and  moderate  way,  people  excused  themselves 


THE    burgomaster's    WIFE.  1 57 

on  the  ground  of  having  experienced  a  hundred-fold 
harsher  and  more  cruel  treatment  from  the  Spaniards. 
It  might  have  been  unchristian  to  repay  in  the  same 
coin,  but  they  dealt  severe  blows  only  in  mortal  conflict, 
and  did  not  seek  the  Clippers'  lives. 

At  the  door  of  the  house  of  death,  the  magistrates 
met  the  musician  Wilhelm  Corneliussohn  and  his  mother, 
who  had  come  to  offer  Henrica  a  hospitable  reception  in 
their  house.  The  mother,  who  had  at  first  refused  to  ex- 
tend her  love  for  her  neighbor  to  the  young  Clipper  girl, 
now  found  it  hard  to  be  deprived  of  the  opportunity  to 
do  a  good  work,  and  gave  expression  to  these  feelings  in 
the  sturdy  fashion  peculiar  to  her. 

Belotti  was  standing  in  the  entry,  no  longer  attired 
in  the  silk  hose  and  satin-bordered  cloth  garments  of  the 
steward,  but  in  a  plain  burgher  dress.  He  told  the  musi- 
cian and  Peter,  that  he  remained  in  Leyden  principally 
because  he  could  not  bear  to  leave  the  sick  maid,  De- 
nise,  in  the  lurch ;  but  other  matters  also  detained  him, 
especially,  though  he  was  reluctant  to  acknowledge  it, 
the  feeling,  strengthened  by  long  years  of  service,  that 
he  belonged  to  the  Hoogstraten  house.  The  dead 
woman's  attorney  had  said  that  his  account  books  were 
in  good  order,  and  willingly  paid  the  balance  due  him. 
His  savings  had  been  well  invested,  and  as  he  never 
touched  the  interest,  but  added  to  the  capital,  had 
considerably  increased.  Nothing  detained  him  in  Ley- 
den, yet  he  could  not  leave  it  until  everything  was 
settled  in  the  house  where  he  had  so  long  ruled. 

He  had  daily  inquired  for  the  sick  lady,  and  after 
her  death,  though  Denise  began  to  recover,  still  lingered 
in  Leyden ;  he  thought  it  his  duty  to  show  the  last 
honors  to  the  dead  by  attending  her  funeral. 


15^  THE    BURGOMASTERS    WIFE. 

The  magistrates   were   glad  to  find   Belotti  in   the 

house.       The  notary  had  managed  his  Uttle  property,  \ 

and  respected  him  as  an  honest  man.      He  now  asked  | 

him  to  act  as  guide  to  his  companions   and  himself.  ! 

The   most    important   matter    was   to    find    the  *  dead  ; 

woman's  will.      Such  a  document  must  be  in  existence,  ■ 

for  up  to  the  day  after  Henrica's  illness  it  had  been  in  t 

the  lawyer's  possession,  but  was  then  sent  for  by  the  old  I 

lady,  who  desired  to   make  some  changes  in  it.      He  j 

could  give  no  information  about  its  contents,  for   his  ] 

dead  partner,  whose  business  had  fallen   to  him,  had  \ 

assisted  in  drawing  it  up.  ; 

The   steward   first   conducted   the   visitors    to   the  i 

padrona's  sitting-room  and  boudoir,  but  though  they  \ 

searched  the  writing-tables,  chests  and  drawers,  and  dis-  ; 

covered  many  letters,   money   and  valuable  jewels  in  ) 

boxes  and  caskets,  the  document  was  not  found.  ; 

The  gentlemen  thought  it  was  concealed  in  a  secret  i 

drawer,  and  ordered  one  of  the  constables  to  call  a  lock-  | 

smith.      Belotti  allowed  this  to  be  done,  but  meantime  ^ 

hstened  with  special  attention  to  the  low  chanting  that  j 

issued  from  the  bedroom  where  the  old  lady's  body  lay.  ^ 

He  knew  that  the  will  would  most  probably  be  found  ■ 

there,  but  was  anxious  to  have  the  priest  complete  the  \ 

consecration  of  his  mistress  undisturbed.   As  soon  as  all  \ 

was  still  in  the  death-chamber,  he  asked  the  gentlemen  j 

to  follow  him.  j 

The  lofty  apartment  into  which  he  led  them,  was  ] 

filled  with  the  odor  of  incense.     A  large  bedstead,  over  | 

which  a  pointed  canopy  of  heavy  silk  rose  to  the  ceiling,  i 

stood  at  the  back,  the  cofiin  in  which  the  dead  woman  j 

lay  had  been  placed  in  the  middle  of  the  room.  A  linen  | 

cloth,  trimmed  with  lace,  covered  the  face.  The  delicate  : 


THK    BURGOMASTERS    WIFE.  159 

hands,  still  unwrinkled,  were  folded,  and  lightly  clasped 
a  well-worn  rosary.  The  lifeless  form  was  concealed  be- 
neath a  costly  coverlid,  in  the  centre  of  which  lay  an 
exquisitely-carved  ivory  crucifix. 

The  visitors  bowed  mutely  before  the  corpse.  Belotti 
approached  it  and,  as  he  saw  the  padrona's  well-known 
hands,  a  convulsive  sob  shook  the  old  man's  breast. 
Then  he  knelt  beside  the  coffin,  pressed  his  lips,  to  the 
cold,  slender  fingers,  and  a  warm  tear,  the  only  one  shed 
for  this  dead  form,  fell  on  the  hands  now  clasped  for- 
ever. 

The  burgomaster  and  his  companion  did  not  inter- 
rupt him,  even  when  he  laid  his  forehead  upon  the  wood 
of  the  coffin  and  uttered  a  brief,  silent  prayer.  After  he 
had  risen,  and  an  elderly  priest  in  the  sacerdotal  robes 
had  left  the  room.  Father  Damianus  beckoned  to  the 
acolytes,  with  whom  he  had  lingered  in  the  back- 
ground, and  aided  by  them  and  Belotti  put  the  lid  on 
the  coffin,  then  turned  to  Peter  Van  der  Werff,  saying : 

'•  We  intend  to  bury  Fraulein  Van  Hoogstraten  at 
midnight,  that  no  offence  may  be  given." 

''  Very  well,  sir !  "  replied  the  burgomaster.  "  What- 
ever may  happen,  we  shall  not  expel  you  from  the  city. 
Of  course,  if  you  prefer  to  go  to  the  Spaniards  — " 

Damianus  shook  his  head  and,  interrupting  the  burgo- 
master, answered  modestly : 

^'  No,  sir;  I  am  a  native  of  Utrecht  and  will  gladly 
pray  for  the  liberty  of  Holland." 

"  There,  there  !"  exclaimed  Van  Hout.  "  Those  were 
good  words,  admirable  words  !    Your  hand.  Father." 

"  There  it  is ;  and,  so  long  as  you  don't  change  the 
'  haec  libertatis  ergo '  on  your  coins  to  '  haec  jrligionis 
ergo,'  not  one  of  those  words  need  be  altered." 


i6o  THE  burgomaster's  wife. 

"  A  free  country  and  in  it  religious  liberty  for  each  j 
individual,  even  for  you  and  your  followers,'*  said  the  ^ 
burgomaster,  '^  is  what  we  desire.  Doctor  Bontius  has  ; 
spoken  of  you,  worthy  man ;  you  have  cared  well  for  \ 
this  dead  woman.  Bury  her  according  to  the  customs  ; 
of  your  church ;  we  have  come  to  arrange  the  earthly  ; 
possessions  she  leaves  behind.  Perhaps  this  casket  may  j 
contain  the  will."  ] 

"  No,  sir,"  replied  the  priest.  "  She  opened  the  ! 
sealed  paper  in  my  presence,  when  she  was  first  taken  | 
sick,  and  wrote  a  few  words  w^henever  she  felt  stronger.  , 
An  hour  before  her  end,  she  ordered  the  notary  to  be  i 
sent  for,  but  when  he  came  life  had  departed.  I  could  | 
not  remain  constantly  beside  the  corpse,  so  I  locked  up  \ 
the  paper  in  the  linen  chest.     There  is  the  key."  j 

The  opened  will  was  soon  found.  The  burgomaster  i 
quietly  unfolded  it,  and,  while  reading  its  contents  aloud,  j 
the  notary  and  city  clerk  looked  over  his  shoulder.  | 

The  property  was  to  be  divided  among  various  l 
churches  and  convents,  where  masses  were  to  be  read  \ 
for  her  soul,  and  her  nearest  blood  relations.  Belotti  : 
and  Denise  received  small  legacies.  j 

"  It  is  fortunate,"  exclaimed  Van  Hout,  "  that  this  j 
paper  is  a  piece  of  paper  and  nothing  more."  j 

"  The  document  has  no  legal  value  whatever,"  added  ] 
the  notary,  "  for  it  was  taken  from  me  and  opened  with  j 
the  explicit  statement,  that  changes  were  to  be  made.  | 
Here  is  a  great  deal  to  be  read  on  the  back."  j 

The  task,  that  the  gendemen  now  undertook,  was  no  \ 
easy  one,  for  the  sick  woman  had  scrawled  short  notes  | 
above  and  below,  hither  and  thither,  on  the  blank  back  ' 
of  the  document,  probably  to  assist  her  memory  while  j 
composing  a  new  will. 


THE    burgomaster's    WIFE.  l6l 

At  the  very  top  a  crucifix  was  sketched  with  an  un- 
steady hand,  and  below  it  the  words  :  "  Pray  for  us ! 
Everything  shall  belong  to  holy  Mother  Church." 

Farther  down  they  read :  "  Nico,  I  like  the  lad» 
The  castle  on  the  downs.  Ten  thousand  gold  florins  in 
money.  To  be  secured  exclusively  to  him.  His  father 
is  not  to  touch  it.  Make  the  reason  for  disinheriting 
him  conspicuous.  Van  Vliet  of  Haarlem  was  the 
gentleman  whose  daughter  my  cousin  secretly  wedded. 
On  some  pitiful  pretext  he  deserted  her,  to  form  another 
marriage.  If  he  has  forgotten  it,  I  have  remembered 
and  would  fain  impress  it  upon  him.  Let  Nico  pay 
heed :  False  love  is  poison.  My  Hfe  has  been  ruined 
by  it — ruined." 

The  second  "  ruined "  was  followed  by  numerous 
repetitions  of  the  same  word.  The  last  one,  at  the  very 
end  of  the  sentence,  had  been  ornamented  with  numer- 
ous curves  and  spirals  by  the  sick  woman's  pen. 

On  the  right-hand  margin  of  the  sheet  stood  a  series 
of  short  notes : 

*'  Ten  thousand  florins  to  Anna.  To  be  secured  to 
herself  Otherwise  they  will  fall  into  the  clutches  of 
that  foot-pad,  d'Avila. 

"  Three  times  as  much  to  Henrica.  Her  father  will 
pay  her  the  money — from  the  sum  he  owes  me.  Where 
he  gets  it  is  his  aflair.  Thus  the  account  with  him 
would  be  settled. 

''  Belotti  has  behaved  badly.  He  shall  be  passed 
over. 

^"  Denise  may  keep  what  was  given  her." 
In  the  middle  of  the  paper,  written  in  large  char- 
acters, twice  and  thrice  underlined,  was  the  sentence : 
"  The    ebony   casket   with    the    Hoogstraten    and 


1 62  THE    burgomaster's    WIFE.  i 

] 

d'Avila  arms  on  the  lid  is  to  be  sent  to  the  widow  j 
of  the  Marquis  d'Avennes.  Forward  it  to  Chateau  | 
Rochebrun  in  Normandy."  \ 

The  men,  who  had  mutually  deciphered  these  words,  \ 
looked  at  each  other  silently,  until  Van  Hout  ex-? 
claimed :  ^ 

"  What  a  confused  mixture  of  malice  and  feminine  ^ 
weakness.  Let  a  woman's  heart  seem  ever  so  cold;j 
glacier  flowers  will  always  be  found  in  it."  j 

"  I'm  sorry  for  the  young  lady  in  your  house,  ■ 
Herr  Peter,"  cried  the  notary,  ^'it  would  be  easier  to  get  i 
sparks  from  rye-bread,  than  such  a  sum  from  the  debt-j 
laden  poor  devil.  The  daughter's  portion  will  be^ 
curtailed  by  the  father;  that's  what  I  call  bargaining] 
between  relations."  j 

"  What  can  be  in  the  casket  ?  "  asked  the  notary.       j 

^'  There  it  is,"  cried  Van  Hout.  I 

"  Bring  it  here,  Belotti."  i 

*' We  must  open  it,"  said  the  lawyer,  "perhaps  she; 
is  trying  to  convey  her  most  valuable  property  across  \ 
the  frontiers."  i 

"  Open  it  ?  Contrary  to  the  dead  woman's  express  ] 
desire?"  asked  Van  der  Werffl  ; 

"  Certainly !"  cried  the  notary.  "  We  were  sent  here  \ 
to  ascertain  the  amount  of  the  inheritance.  The  Hd  is ' 
fastened.   Take  the  picklock,  Meister.  There,  it  is  open."  t 

The  city  magistrates  found  no  valuables  in  the] 
casket,  merely  letters  of  different  dates.  There  were  not  j 
many.  Those  at  the  bottom,  yellow  with  age,  contained  i 
vows  of  love  from  the  Marquis  d'Avennes,  the  morel 
recent  ones  were  brief  and  signed  Don  Louis  d'Avila.  \ 
Van  Hout,  who  understood  the  CastiHan  language  inj 
which  they  were  written,  hastily  read  them.     As  he  was^ 


THE    burgomaster's    WIFE.  1 63 

approaching  the  end  of  the  last  one,  he  exclaimed  with 
lively  indignation : 

"  We  have  here  the  key  of  a  rascally  trick  in  our 
hands  !  t) o  jyou^  remember;  the  'excitement  aroused  four 
years  ago 'by  the  duel,  in  which  "the  Marquis  d'Avennes 
fell  a  victim  to  a  Spanish  brawler?  The  miserable  bravo 
writes  in  this  letter  that  he  has  ....  It  will  be  worth  the 
trouble  ;  I'll  translate  it  for  you.  The  first  part  of  the 
note  is  of  no-  importance ;  but  now  comes  the  point : 
^  And  now,  after  having  succeeded  in  crossing  swords 
with  the  marquis  and  killing  him,  not  without  personal 
danger,  a  fate  he  has  doubtless  deserved,  since  he  aroused 
your  displeasure  to  such  a  degree,  the  condition  you 
imposed  upon  me  is  fulfilled,  and  to-morrow  I  hope 
through  your  favor  to  receive  the  sweetest  reward. 
Tell  Donna  Anna,  my  adored  betrothed,  that  I  would 
fain  lead  her  to  the  altar  early  to-morrow  morning,  for 
the  d'Avennes  are  influential  and  the  following  day  my 
safety  will  perhaps  be  imperilled.  As  for  the  rest,  I 
hope  I  may  be  permitted  to  rely  upon  the  fairness  and 
generosity  of  my  patroness." 

Van  Hout  flung  the  letter  on  the  table,  exclaiming  ; 
"See,  what  a  dainty  hand  the  bravo  writes.  And,  Jove's 
thunder,  the  lady  to  whom  this  plotted  murder  was  to 
have  been  sent,  is  doubtless  the  mother  of  the  unfortu- 
nate marquis,  whom  the  Spanish  assassin  slew." 

"  Yes,  Herr  Van  Hout,"  said  Belotti,  "  I  can  con- 
firm your  supposition.  The  marquise  was  the  wife  of 
the  man,  who  broke  his  plighted  faith  to  the  young 
Fraulein  Van  Hoogstraten.  She,  who  lies  there,  saw 
many  suns  rise  and  set,  ere  her  vengeance  ripened." 

"  Throw  the  scrawl  into  the  fire ! "  cried  Van  Hout 
impetuously. 


164  THE    burgomaster's    WIFE.  -, 

"  No/'  replied  Peter.  "  We  will  not  send  the  letters,! 
but  you  must  keep  them  in  the  archives.  God's  mills  | 
grind  slowly,  and  who  knows  what  good  purpose  these! 
sheets  may  yet  serve."  i 

The  city  clerk  nodded  assent  and  folding  the  papers,  j 
said :  "  I  think  the  dead  woman's  property  will  be  an  ] 
advantage  to  the  city."  \ 

"  The  Prince  will  dispose  of  it,"  replied  Van  derS 
Werff.  "  How  long  have  you  served  this  lady,i 
Belotti  ?  "  ] 

"  Fifteen  years."  ■ 

"Then  remain  in  Leyden  for  a  time.  I  think  youj 
may  expect  the  legacy  she  originally  left  you.  I  will' 
urge  your  claim."  \ 

A  few  hours  before  the  nocturnal  burial  of  old: 
Fraulein  Van  Hoogstraten,  Herr  Matanesse  Van  Wi-j 
bisma  and  his  son  Nicolas  appeared  before  the  city,  but  j 
were  refused  admittance  by  the  men  who  guarded  thei 
gates,  although  both  appealed  to  their  relative's  death.] 
Henrica's  father  did  not  come,  he  had  gone  several  daysi 
before  to  attend  a  tourney  at  Cologne.  \ 


CHAPTER    XVI. 

i 

Between  twelve  and  one  o'clock  on  the  26th  ofj 
May,  Ascension-Day,  the  ringing  of  bells  announced' 
the  opening  of  the  great  fair.  The  old  circuit  of  the; 
boundaries  of  the  fields  had  long  since  given  place  to  a  | 
church  festival,  but  the  name  of  ''  Ommegang"  remained  j 
interwoven  with  that  of  the  fair,  and  even  after  the  new] 


\ 


THE    burgomaster's    WIFE.  1 65 

religion  had  obtained  the  mastery,  all  sorts  of  process- 
ions took  place  at  the  commencement  of  the  fair. 

In  the  days  of  Catholic  rule  the  cross  had  been 
borne  through  the  streets  in  a  solemn  procession,  in 
which  all  Leyden  took  part,  now  the  banners  of  the 
city  and  standards  bearing  the  colors  of  the  House  of 
Orange  headed  the  train,  followed  by  the  nobles  on 
horseback,  the  city  magistrates  in  festal  array,  the  clergy 
in  black  robes,  the  volunteers  in  magnificent  uniforms, 
the  guilds  with  their  emblems,  and  long  joyous  ranks  of 
school-children.  Even  the  poorest  people  bought  some- 
thing new  for  their  little  ones  on  this  day.  Never 
did  mothers  braid  their  young  daughters'  hair  more 
carefully,  than  for  the  procession  at  the  opening  of  the 
fair.  Spite  of  the  hard  times,  many  a  stiver  was  taken 
from  slender  purses  for  fresh  ribbons  and  new  shoes, 
becoming  caps  and  bright-hued  stockings.  The  spring 
sunshine  could  be  reflected  from  the  'little  girls'  shining, 
smoothly-combed  hair,  and  the  big  boys  and  little 
children  looked  even  gayer  than  the  flowers  in  Hen- 
Van  Montfort's  garden,  by  which  the  procession  was 
obliged  to  pass.  Each  wore  a  sprig  of  green  leaves  in 
his  cap  beside  the  plume,  and  the  smaller  the  boy,  the 
larger  the  branch.  There  was  no  lack  of  loud 
talk  and  merry  shouts,  for  every  child  that  passed  its 
home  called  to  its  mother,  grandparents,  and  the 
servants,  and  when  one  raised  its  voice  many  others  in- 
stantly followed.  The  grown  people  too  were  not 
silent,  and  as  the  procession  approached  the  town-hall, 
head-quarters  of  military  companies,  guild-halls  or 
residences  of  popular  men,  loud  cheers  arose,  mingled 
with  the  ringing  of  bells,  the  shouts  of  the  sailors  on 
both  arms  of  the  Rhine  and  on  the  canals,  the  playing 


1 66  THE  burgomaster's  wife. 

of  the  city  musicians  at  the  street  corners,  and  the  rattle  j 
of  guns  and  roar  of  cannon  fired  by  the  gunners  and 
their  assistants  from  the  citadel.  It  was  a  joyous  tumult 
in  jocund  spring !  These  merry  mortals  seemed  to  lull  ^ 
themselves  carelessly  in  the  secure  enjoyment  of  peace  ■ 
and  prosperity,  and  how  blue  the  sky  was,  how  warmly  5 
and  brightly  the  sun  shone !  The  only  grave,  anxious  t 
faces  were  among  the  magistrates ;  but  the  guilds  and  t 
the  children  behind  did  not  see  them,  so  the  rejoicings  j 
continued  without  interruption  until  the  churches  re-  1 
ceived  the  procession,  and  words  so  earnest  and  full  of  i 
warning  echoed  from  the  pulpits,  that  many  grew  | 
thoughtful.  \ 

All  three  phases  of  time  belong  to  man,  the  past  \ 
to  the  graybeard,  the  future  to  youth,  and  the  present  J 
to  childhood.  What  cared  the  little  boys  and  girls  of  ■ 
Ley  den,  released  from  school  during  the  fair,  for  the  j 
peril  close  at  hand  ?  Whoever,  on  the  first  day  and  \ 
during  the  great  linen-fair  on  Friday  and  the  following  i 
days,  received  spending  money  from  parents  or  god-  \ 
parents,  or  whoever  had  eyes  to  see,  ears  to  hear,  and  a  | 
nose  to  smell,  passed  through  the  rows  of  booths  with  ^ 
his  or  her  companions,  stopped  before  the  camels  and  ' 
dancing-bears,  gazed  into  the  open  taverns,  where  not  ; 
only  lads  and  lasses,  but  merry  old  peoi)le  whirled  in  ; 
the  dance  to  the  music  of  bagpipes,  clarionets  and  j 
violins — examined  gingerbread  and  other  dainties  with  I 
the  attention  of  an  expert,  or  obeyed  the  blasts  of  ] 
the  trumpet,  by  which  the  quack  doctor's  negro  sum-  ; 
moned  the  crowd.  i 

Adrian,  the   burgomaster's    son,  also   strolled   day  J 
after  day,  alone  or  with  his  companions,  through  the 
splendors  of  the  fair,  often  grasping  with  the  secure  j 


THE    burgomaster's    WIFE.  167 

sense  of  wealth  the  leather  purse  that  hung  at  his  belt, 
for  it  contained  several  stivers,  which  had  flowed  in 
from  various  sources;  his  father,  his  mother,  Barbara 
and  his  godmother.  Captain  Van  Duivenvoorde,  his 
particular  friend,  on  whose  noble  horse  he  had  often 
ridden,  had  taken  him  three  times  into  a  wafer  booth, 
where  he  eat  till  he  was  satisfied,  and  thus,  even  on  the 
Tuesday  after  Ascension-Day,  his  httle  fortune  was  but ' 
sHghtly  diminished.  He  intended  to  buy  something 
very  big  and  sensible  :  a  knight's  sword  or  a  cross-bow ; 
perhaps  even — ^but  this  thought  seemed  like  an  evil 
temptation — the  ginger-cake  covered  with  almonds, 
which  was  exhibited  in  the  booth  of  a  Delft  con- 
fectioner. He  and  Bessie  could  surely  nibble  for  weeks 
upon  this  giant  cake,  if  they  were  economical,  and 
economy  is  an  admirable  virtue.  Something  must  at 
any  rate  be  spared  for  "little  brothers,"*  the  nice  spiced 
cakes  which  were  baked  in  many  booths  before  the 
eyes  of  the  passers-by. 

On  Tuesday  afternoon  his  way  led  him  past  the 
famous  Rotterdam  cake-shop.  Before  the  door  of  the 
building,  made  of  boards  lightly  joined  together  and 
decked  with  mirrors  and  gay  pictures,  a  stout,  pretty 
woman,  in  the  bloom  of  youth,  sat  in  a  high  arm-chair, 
pouring  rapidly,  with  remarkable  skill,  liquid  dough  into 
the  hot  iron  plate,  provided  with  numerous  indentations, 
that  stood  just  on  a  level  with  her  comfortably  outspread 
lap.  Her  assistant  hastily  turned  with  a  fork  the  little 
cakes,  browning  rapidly  in  the  hollows  of  the  iron,  and 
when  baked,  laid  them  neatly  on  small  plates.  The 
waiter  prepared  them  for  purchasers  by  putting  a  large 
piece  of  yellow  butter  on  the  smoking  pile.     A  tempt- 

*  A  kind  of  griddle  or  pancake. 


1 68  THE  burgomaster's  wife.  ] 

ing  odor,  that  only  too  vividly  recalled  former  enjoy- ! 
ment,  rose  from  the  fireplace,  and  Adrian's  fingers  were  ] 
already  examining  the  contents  of  his  purse,  when  the  | 
negro's  trumpet  sounded  and  the  quack  doctor's  cart  | 
stopped  directly  in  front  of  the  booth.  \ 

The  famous  Doctor  Morpurgo  was  a  fine-looking! 
man,  dressed  in  bright  scarlet,  who  had  a  thin,  coal-^ 
black  beard  hanging  over  his  breast.  His  movements  \ 
were  measured  and  haughty,  the  bows  and  gestures  ^ 
with  which  he  saluted  the  assembled  crowd,  patron- J 
izing  and  affable.  After  a  sufficient  number  of  curious  | 
persons  had  gathered  around  his  cart,  which  was! 
stocked  with  boxes  and  vials,  he  began  to  address  \ 
them  in  broken  Dutch,  spiced  with  numerous  foreign  j 
words.  I 

He  praised  the  goodness  of  the  Providence  which  s 
had  created  the  marvel  of  human  organism.  Every-  j 
thing,  he  said,  was  arranged  and  formed  wisely  and  in  I 
the  best  possible  manner,  but  in  one  respect  nature] 
fared  badly  in  the  presence  of  adepts. 

"  Do  you  know  where  the  error  is,  ladies  and  gentle-  \ 
men  ?  "  he  asked.  \ 

"  In  the  purse,"  cried  a  merry  barber's  clerk,  "  it  i 
grows  prematurely  thin  every  day."  \ 

^'  Right,  my  son,"  answered  the  quack  graciously.  \ 
*'  But  nature  also  provides  it  with  the  great  door  from  I 
which  your  answer  has  come.  Your  teeth  are  a  bung- 1 
ling  piece  of  workmanship.  They  appear  with  pain,] 
decay  with  time,  and  so  long  as  they  last  torture  those  j 
who  do  not  industriously  attend  to  them.  But  art  will : 
correct  nature.  See  this  box — "  and  he  now  began  to  ; 
praise  the  tooth-powder  and  cure  for  toothache  he  had  j 
invented.     Next  he  passed  to  the  head,  and  described  \ 


THE    burgomaster's    \VIFE.  169 

in  vivid  colors,  its  various  pains.  But  they  too  were  to 
be  cured,  people  need  only  buy  his  arcanum.  It  was 
to  be  had  for  a  trifle,  and  whoever  bought  it  could  sweep 
away  every  headache,  even  the  worst,  as  with  a  broom. 

Adrian  listened  to  the  famous  doctor  with  mouth 
wide  open.  Specially  sweet  odors  floated  over  to  him 
from  the  hot  surface  of  the  stove  before  the  booth,  and 
he  would  have  gladly  allowed  himself  a  plate  of  fresh 
cakes.  The  baker's  stout  wife  even  beckoned  to  him 
with  a  spoon,  but  he  closed  his  hand  around  the  purse 
and  again  turned  his  eyes  towards  the  quack,  whose 
cart  was  now  surrounded  by  men  and  women  buying 
tinctures  and  medicines. 

Henrica  lay  ill  in  his  father's  house.  He  had  been 
taken  into  her  room  twice,  and  the  beautiful  pale  face, 
with  its  large  dark  eyes,  had  filled  his  heart  with  pity. 
The  clear,  deep  voice  in  which  she  addressed  a  few 
words  to  him,  also  seemed  wonderful  and  penetrated  the 
inmost  depths  of  his  soul.  He  was  told  one  morning 
that  she  was  there,  and  since  that  time  his  mother  rarely 
appeared  and  the  house  was  far  more  quiet  than  usual ; 
for  everybody  walked  lightly,  spoke  in  subdued  tones, 
rapped  cautiously  at  a  window  instead  of  using  the 
knocker,  and  whenever  Bessie  or  he  laughed  aloud  or 
ran  up  or  down-stairs,  Barbara,  his  mother,  orTrautchen 
appeared  and  whispered :  "  Gently,  children,  the  young 
lady  has  a  headache." 

There  were  many  bottles  in  the  cart  which  were 
warranted  to  cure  the  ailment,  and  the  famous  Mor- 
purgo  seemed  to  be  a  very  sensible  man,  no  buffoon 
like  the  other  mountebanks.  The  wife  of  the  baker, 
Wilhelm  Peterssohn,  who  stood  beside  him,  a  woman 
he  knew  well,  said  to  her  companion  that  the  doctor's 


lyo  THE  burgomaster's  wife.  •     i 

remedies  were  good,  they  had  quickly  cured  her  god-  i 
mother  of  a  bad  attack  of  erysipelas.  j 

The  words  matured  the  boy's  resolution.  Fleeting  ; 
visions  of  the  sword,  the  cross-bow,  the  gingerbread  \ 
and  the  nice  little  brothers  once  more  rose  before  his  i 
mind,  but  with  a  powerful  effort  of  the  will  he  thrust  i 
them  aside,  held  his  breath  that  he  might  not  smell  ! 
the  alluring  odor  of  the  cakes,  and  hastily  approached  ! 
the  cart.  Here  he  unfastened  his  purse  from  his  belt,  ; 
poured  its  contents  into  his  hand,  showed  the  coins  to  \ 
the  doctor,  who  had  fixed  his  black  eyes  kindly  on  the  ] 
odd  customer,  and  asked :  "  Will  this  be  enough  ?"  i 

''For  what?"  | 

''  For  the  medicine  to  cure  headache."  1 

The  quack  separated  the  little  coins  in  Adrian's  \ 
hand  with  his  forefinger,  and  answered  gravely :  "  No,  j 
my  son,  but  I  am  always  glad  to  advance  the  cause  of ; 
knowledge.  '  There  is  still  a  great  deal  for  you  to  learn  i 
at  school,  and  the  headache  will  prevent  it.  Here  are  J 
the  drops  and,  as  it's  you,  I'll  give  this  prescription  for  ; 
another  arcanum  into  the  bargain."  ■ 

Adrian  hastily  wrapped  the  httle  vial  the  quack  , 
handed  him  in  the  piece  of  printed  paper,  received  his  ; 
dearly-bought  treasure,  and  ran  home.  On  the  way  he  i 
was  stopped  by  Captain  Allertssohn,  who  came  towards  i 
him  with  the  musician  Wilhelm.  | 

"  Have  you  seen  my  Andreas,  Master  Good-for-  j 
nothing  ?  "  he  asked.  | 

"  He  was  standing  listening  to  the  musicians,"  re-  I 
plied  Adrian,  released  himself  from  the  captain's  grasp,  ; 
and  vanished  among  the  crowd.  j 

''  A  nimble  lad,"  said  the  fencing-master.  ''  My  boy  I 
is  standing  with  the  musicians  again.      He  has  nothing  ] 


THE    BURGOMASTERS    WIFE.  lyi 

but  your  art  in  his  mind.  He  would  rather  blow 
on  a  comb  than  comb  his  hair  with  it,  he's  always 
tooting  on  every  leaf  and  pipe,  makes  triangles  of 
broken  sword-blades,  and  not  even  a  kitchen  pot  is  safe 
from  his  drumming;  in  short  there's  nothing  but  sing- 
song in  the  good-for-nothing  fellow's  head ;  he  wants 
to  be  a  musician  or  something  of  the  sort." 

"  Right,  right ! "  replied  Wilhelm  eagerly ;  '^  he  has 
a  fine  ear  and  the  best  voice  in  the  choir." 

"  The  matter  must  be  duly  considered,"  replied  the 
captain,  ^'  and  you,  if  anybody,  are  the  person  to  tell  us 
what  he  can  accomplish  in  your  art.  If  you  have  time 
this  evening,  Herr  Wilhelm,  come  to  me  at  the  watch- 
house,  I  should  like  to  speak  to  you.  To  be  sure,  you'll 
hardly  find  me  before  ten  o'clock.  I  have  a  stricture 
in  my  throat  again,  and  on  such  days — Roland,  my 
fore  man ! " 

The  captain  cleared  his  throat  loudly  and  vehem- 
ently. "  I  am  at  your  service,"  said  Wilhelm,  "  for  the 
night  is  long,  but  I  won't  let  you  go  now  until  I  know 
what  you  mean  by  your  fore  man  Roland." 

"  Very  well,  it's  not  much  of  a  story,  and  perhaps  you 
won't  understand.  Come  in  here;  I  can  tell  it  better 
over  a  mug  of  beer,  and  the  legs  rebel  if  they're  de- 
prived of  rest  four  nights  in  succession." 

When  the  two  men  were  seated  opposite  to  each 
other  in  the  tap-room,  the  fencing-master  pushed  his 
moustache  away  from  his  lips,  and  began  :  "  How 
long  ago  is  it —  ?  We'll  say  fifteen  years,  since  I  was 
riding  to  Haarlem  with  the  innkeeper  Aquanus,  who 
as  you  know,  is  a  learned  man  and  has  all  sorts  of  old 
stuff  and  Latin  manuscripts.  He  talks  well,  and  when 
the  conversation  turned  upon  our  meeting  with  many 


172  THE    burgomaster's    WIFE. 

things  in  life  that  we  fancy  we  have  already  seen,  re- 
marked that  this  could  be  easily  explained,  for  the 
human  soul  was  an  indestructible  thing,  a  bird  that 
never  dies.  So  long  as  we  live  it  remains  with  us,  and 
when  we  die  flies  away  and  is  rewarded  or  punished 
according  to  its  deserts ;  but  after  centuries,  which  are 
no  more  to  the  Lord  than  the  minutes  in  which  I 
empty  this  fresh  mug — one  more,  bar-maid — the  merci- 
ful Father  releases  it  again,  and  it  nestles  in  some  new- 
born child.  This  made  me  laugh;  but  he  was  not  at  all 
disturbed  and  told  the  story  of  an  old  Pagan,  a  wonder- 
fully wise  chap,  who  knew  positively  that  his  soul  had 
formerly  lodged  in  the  body  of  a  mighty  hero.  This 
same  hero  also  remembered  exactly  where,  during  his 
former  life,  he  had  hung  his  shield,  aVid  told  his  asso- 
ciates. They  searched  and  found  the  piece  of  armor, 
with  the  initials  of  the  Christian  and  surname  which  had 
belonged  to  the  philosopher  in  his  life  as  a  soldier, 
centuries  before.  This  puzzled  me,  for  you  see — now 
don't  laugh — something  had  formerly  happened  to  me 
very  much  like  the  Pagan's  experience.  I  don't  care 
much  for  books,  and  from  a  child  have  always  read  the 
same  one.  I  inherited  it  from  my  dead  father  and  the 
work  is  not  printed,  but  written.  I'll  show  it  to  you 
some  time — it  contains  the  history  of  the  brave  Roland. 
Often,  when  absorbed  in  these  beautiful  and  true  stories, 
my  cheeks  have  grown  as  red  as  fire,  and  I'll  confess  to 
you,  as  I  did  to  my  travelling-companion:  If  I'm  not 
mistaken,  I've  sat  with  King  Charles  at  the  board,  or 
I've  worn  Roland's  chain  armor  in  battle  and  in  the 
tourney.  I  beheve  I  have  seen  the  Moorish  king, 
Marsilia,  and  once  when  reading  how  the  dying  Roland 
wound  his  horn  in  the  valley  of  the  Roncesvalles,  I  felt 


THE    burgomaster's    WIFE.  1 75 

such  a  pain  in  my  throat,  that  it  seemed  as  if  it  would 
burst,  and  fancied  I  had  felt  the  same  pain  before. 
When  I  frankly  acknowledged  all  this,  my  companion 
exclaimed  that  there  was  no  doubt  my  soul  had  once 
inhabited  Roland's  body,  or  in  other  words,  that  in  a 
former  life  I  had  been  the  Knight  Roland." 

The  musician  looked  at  the  fencing-master  in  amaze- 
ment and  asked :  "  Could  you  really  believe  that. 
Captain  ?  " 

"  Why  not,"  rephed  the  other.  ''  Nothing  is  im- 
possible to  the  Highest.  At  first  I  laughed  in  the  man's 
face,  but  his  words  followed  me ;  and  when  I  read  the 
old  stories — I  needn't  strain  my  eyes  much,  for  at  every 
line  I  know  beforehand  what  the  next  will  be — I 
couldn't  help  asking  myself —  In  short,  sir,  my  soul 
probably  once  inhabited  Roland's  body,  and  that's  why ' 
I  call  him  my  ^  fore  man.'  In  the  course  of  years,  it 
has  become  a  habit  to  swear  by  him.  Folly,  you  will 
think,  but  I  know  Avhat  I  know,  and  now  I  must  go. 
We  will  have  another  talk  this  evening,  but  about  other 
matters.  Yes,  everybody  in  this  world  is  a  little  crack- 
brained,  but  at  least  I  don't  bore  other  people.  I 
only  show  my  craze  to  intimate  friends,  and  strangers 
who  ask  me  once  about  the  fore  man  Roland  rarely  do 
so  a  second  time.  The  score,  bar-maid —  There  it  is 
again.  We  must  see  whether  the  towers  are  properly 
garrisoned,  and  charge  the  sentinels  to  keep  their  eyes 
open.  If  you  come  prepared  for  battle,  you  may  save 
yourself  a  walk,  I'll  answer  for  nothing  to-day.  You  will 
probably  pass  the  new  Rhine.  Just  step  into  my  house, 
and  tell  my  wife  she  needn't  wait  supper  for  me.  Or,  no, 
I'll  attend  to  that  myself;  there's  something  in  the  air, 
you'll  see  it,  for  I  have  the  Roncesvalles  throat  again." 


174  THE  burgomaster's  wife. 


CHAPTER    XVII. 

In  the  big  watch-house  that  had  been  erected  beside 
the  citadel,  during  the  siege  of  the  city,  raised  ten 
months  before,  city-guards  and  volunteers  sat  together 
in  groups  after  sunset,  talking  over  their  beer  or  passing 
the  time  in  playing  cards  by  the  feeble  light  of  thin 
tallow  candles. 

The  embrasure  where  the  officers'  table  stood  was 
somewhat  better  lighted.  Wilhelm,  who,  according  to 
his  friend's  advice,  appeared  in  the  uniform  of  an  ensign 
of  the  city-guards,  seated  himself  at  the  empty  board 
just  after  the  clock  in  the  steeple  had  struck  ten.  While 
ordering  the  waiter  to  bring  him  a  mug  of  beer.  Captain 
Allertssohn  appeared  with  Junker  von  Warmond,  who 
had  taken  part  in  the  consultation  at  Peter  Van  der 
Werff 's,  and  bravely  earned  his  captain's  sash  two  years 
before  at  the  capture  of  Brill.  As  this  son  of  one  of  the 
richest  and  most  aristocratic  families  in  Holland,  a 
youth  whose  mother  had  borne  the  name  of  Egmont, 
entered,  he  drew  his  hand,  encased  in  a  fencing-glove, 
from  the  captain's  arm  and  said,  countermanding  the 
musician's  order : 

''  Nothing  of  that  sort,  waiter !  The  little  keg  from 
the  Wurzburger  Stein  can't  be  empty  yet.  We'll  find 
the  bottom  of  it  this  evening.  What  do  you  say, 
Captain.  ?  " 

"  Such  an  arrangement  will  lighten  the  keg  and  not 
specially  burden  us,"  replied  the  other.  "  Good-evening, 
Herr  Wilhelm,  punctuality  adorns  the  soldier.     People 


THE    burgomaster's    WIFE.  17S 

are  beginning  to  understand  how  much  depends  upon 
it.  I  have  posted  the  men,  so  that  they  can  overlook 
the  country  in  every  direction.  I  shall  have  them 
relieved  from  time  to  time,  and  at  intervals  look  after 
them  myself.  This  is  good  liquor.  Junker.  All  honor 
to  the  man  who  melts  his  gold  into  such  a  fluid.  The 
first  glass  must  be  a  toast  to  the  Prince." 

The  three  men  touched  their  glasses,  and  soon  after 
drank  to  the  liberty  of  Holland  and  the  prosperity  of 
the  good  city  of  Ley  den.  Then  the  conversation  took 
a  Hvely  turn,  but  duty  was  not  forgotten,  for  at  the  end 
of  half  an  hour  the  captain  rose  to  survey  the  horizon 
himself  and  urge  the  sentinels  to  vigilant  watchfulness. 

When  he  returned,  Wilhelm  and  Junker  von  War- 
mond  were  so  engaged  in  eager  conversation,  that  they 
did  not  notice  his  entrance.  The  musician  was  speak- 
ing of  Italy,  and  AUertssohn  heard  him  exclaim  im- 
petuously : 

"  Whoever  has  once  seen  that  country  can  never 
forget  it,  and  when  I  am  sitting  on  the  house-top  with 
my  doves,  my  thoughts  only  too  often  fly  far  away 
with  them,  and  my  eyes  no  longer  see  our  broad, 
monotonous  plains  and  grey,  misty  sky." 

"  Oh !  ho  !  Meister  Wilhelm,"  interrupted  the  cap- 
tain, throwing  himself  into  the  arm-chair  and  stretching 
out  his  booted  legs.  "  Oh !  ho !  This  time  I've  dis- 
covered the  crack  in  your  brain.  Italy,  always  Italy ! 
I  know  Italy  too,  for  I've  been  in  Brescia,  looking  for 
good  steel  sword-blades  for  the  Prince  and  other  nobles, 
I  crossed  the  rugged  Apennines  and  went  to  Florence, 
to  see  fine  pieces  of  armor.  From  Livorno  I  went  by 
sea  to  Genoa,  where  I  obtained  chased  gold  and  silver- 
work  for  shoulder-belts  and  sheaths.     Truth  is  truth  — 


1 

I 

176  THE    burgomaster's    WIFE. 

the  brown-skinned  rascals  can  do  fine  work.     But  the  \ 
country  —  the  country!  Roland,  my  fore  man  —  how] 
any  sensible  man  can  prefer  it  to  ours  is  more  than  I 
understand."  j 

"  Holland  is  our  mother,"  replied  von  Warmond.  ^ 
"  As  good  sons  we  believe  her  the  best  of  women ;  yet  \ 
we  can  admit,  without  shame,  that  there  are  more  beau-  \ 
tiful  ones  in  the  world."  -i 

"  Do  you  blow  that  trumpet  too  ? "  exclaimed  the  , 
fencing-master,  pushing  his  glass  angrily  further  upon  i 
the  table.     Did  you  ever  cross  the  Alps  ?  "  j 

"  No,  but—"  I 

"  But  you  beheve  the  color-daubers  of  the  artist  \ 
guild,  whose  eyes  are  caught  by  the  blue  of  the  sky  and  j 
sea,  or  the  musical  gentry  who  allow  themselves  to  be  j 
deluded  by  the  soft  voices  and  touching  melodies  there,  ] 
but  you  would  do  well  to  listen  to  a  quiet  man  too  for  ; 
once."  : 

"  Go  on.  Captain." 

^^  Very  well.  And  if  anybody  can  get  an  untruthful  : 
word  out  of  me,  I'll  pay  his  score  till  the  Day  of  Judg-  ] 
ment.  I'll  begin  the  story  at  the  commencement.  First  ' 
you  must  cross  the  horrible  Alps.  There  you  see  barren,  - 
dreary  rocks,  cold  snow,  wild  glacier  torrents  on  which  j 
no  boat  can  be  used.  Instead  of  watering  meadows,  ; 
the  mad  waves  fling  stones  on  their  banks.  Then  we  i 
reach  the  plains,  where  it  is  true  many  kinds  of  plants  ^ 
grow.  I  was  there  in  June,  and  made  my  jokes  about  : 
the  tiny  fields,  where  small  trees  stood,  serving  as  props  I 
for  the  vines.  It  didn't  look  amiss,  but  the  heat,  ^ 
Junker,  the  heat  spoiled  all  pleasure.  And  the  dirt  in  i 
the  taverns,  the  vermin,  and  the  talk  about  bravos,  who  ] 
shed  the  blood  of  honest  Christians  in  the  dark  for  a  ; 


THE    burgomaster's    WIFE.  1 77 

little  paltry  money.  If  your  tongue  dries  up  in  your 
mouth,  you'll  find  nothing  but  hot  wine,  not  a  sip  of 
cool  beer.  And  the  dust,  gentlemen,  the  frightful  dust. 
As  for  the  steel  in  Brescia — it's  worthy  of  all  honor. 
But  the  feather  was  stolen  from  my  hat  in  the  tavern,  and 
the  landlord  devoured  onions  as  if  they  were  white  bread. 
May  God  punish  me  if  a  single  piece  of  honest  beef, 
such  as  my  wife  can  set  before  me  every  day — and  we 
don't  live  like  princes — ever  came  between  my  teeth. 
And  the  butter,  Junker,  the  butter!  We  burn  oil  in 
lamps,  and  grease  door-hinges  with  it,  when  they  creak, 
but  the  Italians  use  it  to  fry  chickens  and  fish.  Confound 
such  doings ! " 

"  Beware,  Captain,"  cried  Wilhelm,  *'  or  I  shall  take 
you  at  your  word  and  you'll  be  obliged  to  pay  my  score 
for  life.     Olive-oil  is  a  pure,  savory  seasoning." 

'^  For  a  man  that  likes  it.  I  commend  Holland 
butter.  Olive-oil  has  its  value  for  polishing  steel,  but 
butter  is  the  right  thing  for  roasting  and  frying;  so 
that's  enough !  But  I  beg  you  to  hear  me  farther. 
From  Lombardy  I  went  to  Bologna,  and  then  crossed 
the  Apennines.  Sometimes  the  road  ascended,  then 
suddenly  plunged  downward  again,  and  it's  a  queer 
pleasure,  which,  thank  God,  we  are  spared  in  this  country, 
to  sit  in  the  saddle  going  dow^n  a  mountain.  On  the 
right  and  left,  lofty  cliffs  tower  like  walls.  Your  breath- 
ing becomes  oppressed  in  the  narrow  valleys,  and  if  you 
want  to  get  a  distant  view — there's  nothing  to  be  seen, 
for  everywhere  some  good-for-nothing  mountain  thrusts 
itself  directly  before  your  nose.  I  believe  the  Lord  created 
those  humps  for  a  punishment  to  men  after  Adam's  fall. 
On  the  sixth  day  of  creation  the  earth  was  level.  It 
was  in  August,  and  when  the  noon  sun  was  reflected 


IjS  THE    burgomaster's    WIFE. 

from  the  rocks,  the  heat  was  enough  to  kill  one ;  it's  a 
miracle,  that  I'm  not  sitting  beside  you  dried  up  and 
baked.  The  famous  blue  of  the  Itahan  sky !  Always 
the  same !  We  have  it  here  in  this  country  too,  but  it 
alternates  with  beautiful  clouds.  There  are  few  things 
in  Holland  I  like  better  than  our  clouds.  When  the 
rough  Apennines  at  last  lay  behind  me,  I  reached  the 
renowned  city  of  Florence." 

"  And  can  you  deny  it  your  approval?"  asked  the 
musician. 

"  No,  sir,  there  are  many  proud,  stately  palaces  and 
beautiful  churches  and  no  lack  of  silk  and  velvet  every- 
where, the  trade  of  cloth-weaving  too  is  flourishing;  but 
my  health,  my  health  was  not  good  in  your  Florence, 
principally  on  account  of  the  heat,  and  besides  I  found 
many  things  different  from  what  I  expected.  In  the 
first  place,  there's  the  river  Arno !  The  stream  is  a 
puddle,  nothing  but  a  puddle  !  Do  you  know  what  the 
water  looks  like  ?  Like  the  pools  that  stand  between 
the  broken  fragments  and  square  blocks  in  a  stone- 
cutter's yard,  after  a  heavy  thunder-shower." 

"  The  score.  Captain,  the  score  ! " 

"  I  mean  the  yard  of  a  stone-cutter,  who  does 
a  large  business,  and  pools  of  tolerable  width.  Will  you 
still  contradict  me  if  I  maintain — the  Arno  is  a  shallow, 
narrow  stream,  just  fit  to  sail  a  boy's  bark-boat.  It 
spreads  over  a  wide  surface  of  grey  pebbles,  very  much 
as  the  gold  fringe  straggles  over  the  top  of  Junker  von 
Warmond's  fencing-glove." 

*'  You  saw  it  at  the  end  of  a  hot  summer,"  replied 
Wilhelm,  ''  it's  very  different  in  spring." 

"  Perhaps  so ;  but  I  beg  you  to  remember  the 
Rhine,  the  Meuse,  and  our  other  rivers,  even  the  Marne, 


THE    BURGOMASTERS    WIFE.  1 79 

Drecht  and  whatever  the  smaller  streams  are  called. 
They  remam  full  and  bear  stately  ships  at  all  seasons  of 
the  year.  Uniform  and  reliable  is  the  custom  of  this 
country;  to-day  one  way,  to-morrow  another,  is  the 
Itahan  habit.  It's  just  the  same  with  the  blades  in  the 
fencing-school." 

"  The  Italians  wield  dangerous  weapons,"  said  von 
Warmond. 

"  Very  true,  but  they  bend  to  and  fro  and  lack  firm- 
ness. I  know  what  I'm  talking  about,  for  I  lodged 
with  my  colleague  Torelli,  the  best  fencing-master  in 
the  city.  I'll  say  nothing  of  the  meals  he  set  before 
me.  To-day  macaroni,  to-morrow  macaroni  with  a 
couple  of  chicken  drumsticks  to  boot,  and  so  on.  I've 
often  drawn  my  belt  tighter  after  dinner.  As  for  the  art 
of  fencing,  Torelli  is  certainly  no  bungler,  but  he  too 
has  the  skipping  fashion  in  his  method.  You  must  keep 
your  eyes  open  in  a  passado  with  him,  but  if  I  can  once 
get  to  my  quarte,  tierce,  and  side-thrust,  I  have  him." 

''  An  excellent  series,"  said  Junker  von  Warmond. 
^'  It  has  been  useful  to  me." 

"  I  know,  I  know,"  replied  the  captain  eagerly. 
*'  You  silenced  the  French  brawler  with  it  at  Namur. 
There's  the  catch  in  my  throat  again.  Something 
will  happen  to-day,  gentlemen,  something  will  surely 
happen." 

The  fencing-master  grasped  the  front  of  his  ruff  with 
his  left  hand  and  set  the  glass  on  the  table  with  his 
right.  He  had  often  done  so  far  more  carelessly,  but 
to-day  the  glass  shattered  into  many  fragments. 

''  That's  nothing,"  cried  the  young  nobleman. 
**  Waiter,  another  glass  for  Captain  AUertssohn." 

The  fencing-master  pushed  his  chair  back  from  the 


l8o  THE    burgomaster's    WIFE. 

table,  and  looking  at  the  broken  pieces  of  greenish  glass, 
said  in  an  altered  tone,  as  if  speaking  to  himself  rather 
than  his  companions: 

''  Yes,  yes,  something  serious  will  happen  to-day. 
Shattered  into  a  thousand  pieces.  As  God  wills !  I 
know  where  my  place  is." 

Von  Warmond  filled  a  fresh  glass,  saying  with  a 
slight  shade  of  reproof  in  his  tone :  ''  Why,  Captain, 
Captain,  what  whims  are  these  ?  Before  the  battle  of 
Brill  I  fell  in  jumping  out  of  the  boat  and  broke  my 
sword.  I  soon  found  another,  but  the  idea  came  into 
my  head  :  '  you'll  meet  your  death  to-day.'  Yet  here  I 
sit,  and  hope  to  empty  many  a  beaker  with  you." 

"It  has  passed  already,"  said  the  fencing-master, 
raising  his  hat  and  wiping  the  perspiration  from  his 
forehead  with  the  back  of  his  hand.  ^'  Every  one  must 
meet  his  death-hour,  and  if  mine  is  approaching  to-day 
— be  it  as  God  wills !  My  family  won't  starve.  The 
house  on  the  new  Rhine  is  free  from  mortgage,  and 
though  they  don't  inherit  much  else,  I  shall  leave  my 
children  an  honest  name  and  trustworthy  friends.  I  know 
you  won't  lose  sight  of  my  second  boy,  the  musician, 
Wilhelm.  Nobody  is  indispensable,  and  if  Heaven  , 
wishes  to  call  me  from  this  command.  Junker  von 
Nordwyk,  Jan  Van  der  Does,  can  fill  my  place.  You, 
Herr  von  Warmond,  are  in  just  the  right  spot,  and  the 
good  cause  will  reach  a  successful  end  even  without 
me." 

The  musician  listened  with  surprise  to  the  softened 
tone  of  the  strange  man's  voice,  but  the  young  nobleman 
raised  his  drinking-cup,  exclaiming : 

"  Such  heavy  thoughts  for  a  light  glass !  You  make 
too  much  of  the  matter,  Captain.     Take  your  bumper 


THE    burgomaster's    WIFE.  l8l 

again,  and  pledge  me :  Long  live  the  noble  art  of 
fencing,  and  your  series  :  quarte,  tierce  and  side-thrust !" 

"  They'll  live,"  replied  Allertssohn,  "  ay,  they'll  live. 
Many  hundreds  of  noble  gentlemen  use  the  sword  in 
this  country,  and  the  man  who  sits  here  has  taught 
them  to  wield  it  according  to  the  rules.  My  series  has 
served  many  in  duelling,  and  I,  Andreas,  their  master, 
have  made  tierce  follow  quarte  and  side-thrust  tierce 
thousands  of  times,  but  always  with  buttons  on  the  foils 
and  against  padded  doublets.  Outside  the  walls,  in 
the  batde-field,  no  one,  often  as  I  have  pressed  upon 
the  leaders,  has  ever  stood  against  me  in  single  combat. 
This  Brescian  sword-blade  has  more  than  once  pierced 
a  Spanish  jerkin,  but  the  art  I  teach,  gentlemen,  the  art 
I  love,  to  which  my  life  has  been  devoted,  I  have  never 
practised  in  earnest.  That  is  hard  to  bear,  gentlemen, 
and  if  Heaven  is  disposed,  before  calling  him  away  from 
earth,  to  grant  a  poor  man,  who  is  no  worse  than  his 
neighbors,  one  favor,  I  shall  be  permitted  to  cross  blades 
once  in  a  true,  genuine  duel,  and  try  my  series  against  an 
able  champion  in  a  mortal  struggle.  If  God  would 
grant  Andreas  this^ — " 

Before  the  fencing-master  had  finished  the  last  sen- 
tence, an  armed  man  dashed  the  door  open,  shouting: 

"  The  light  is  raised  at  Leyderdorp ! " 

At  these  words  Allertssohn  sprang  from  his  chair 
as  nimbly  as  a  youth,  drew  himself  up  to  his  full  height, 
adjusted  his  shoulder-belt  and  drew  down  his  sash,  ex- 
claiming : 

"To  the  citadel,  Hornist,  and  sound  the  call  for 
assembling  the  troops.  To  your  volunteers,  Captain 
Van  Duivenvoorde.  Post  yourself  with  four  companies 
at  the  Hohenort  Gate,  to  be  ready  to  take  part,  if  the 


1 82  THE    burgomaster's    WIFE.  | 

battle  approaches  the  city-walls.  The  gunners  must  j 
provide  matches.  Let  the  garrisons  in  the  towers  be  i 
doubled.  Klaas,  go  to  the  sexton  of  St.  Pancratius  and  \ 
tell  him  to  ring  the  alarm-bell,  to  warn  the  people  at  | 
the  fair.  Your  hand,  Junker.  I  know  you  will  be  at  i 
your  post,  and  you,  Meister  Wilhelm." 

"  I'll  go  with  you,"  said  the  musician  resolutely.  \ 
"  Don't  reject  me.  I  have  remained  quiet  long  enough ;  \ 
I  shall  stifle  here." 

Wilhelm's  cheeks  flushed,  and  his  eyes  sparkled  : 
with  a  lustre  so  bright  and  angry,  that  Junker  von  War-  \ 
mond  looked  at  his  phlegmatic  friend  in  astonishment^  j 
while  the  captain  called  :  I 

"  Then  station  yourself  in  the  first  company  beside  j 
my  ensign.  You  don't  look  as  if  you  felt  hke  jesting^  l 
and  the  work  will  be  in  earnest  now,  bloody  earnest."     j 

Allertssohn  walked  out  of  doors  with  a  steady  step>  i 
addressed  his  men  in  a  few  curt,  vigorous  words,  ordered  I 
the  drummers  to  beat  their  drums,  while  marching  j 
through  the  city,  to  rouse  the  people  at  the  fair,  j 
placed  himself  at  the  head  of  his  trusty  little  band,  and.; 
led  them  towards  the  new  Rhine.  \ 

The  moon  shone  brightly  down  into  the  quiet  streets^  ; 
was  reflected  from  the  black  surface  of  the  river,  andi 
surrounded  the  tall  peaked  gables  of  the  narrow  houses  ; 
with  a  silvery  lustre.  The  rapid  tramp  of  the  soldiers  i 
was  echoed  loudly  back  from  the  houses  through  the  j 
silence  of  the  night,  and  the  vibration  of  the  air,  shaken  | 
by  the  beating  of  the  drums,  made  the  papes  rattle.  \ 

This  time  no  merry  cliildren  with  paper  flags  and  j 
wooden  swords  preceded  the  warriors,  this  time  no  gay  ] 
girls  and  proud  mothers  followed  them,  not  even  an  old  ^ 
man,  who  remembered  former  days,  when  he  himself  \ 

\ 
I 


THE    burgomaster's    WIFE.  183 

bore  arms.  As  the  silent  troops  reached  the  neighbor^ 
hood  of  Allertssohn's  house,  the  clock  in  the  church-^ 
steeple  slowly  struck  twelve,  and  directly  after  the 
alarm-bell  began  to  sound  from  the  tower  of  Pancratius. 

A  window  in  the  second  story  of  the  fencing-master's 
house  was  thrown  open,  and  his  wife's  face  appeared. 
An  anxious  married  life  with  her  strange  husband  had 
prematurely  aged  pretty  little  Eva's  countenance,  but 
the  mild  moonlight  transfigured  her  faded  features.  The 
beat  of  her  husband's  drums  was  familiar  to  her,  and 
when  she  saw  him  at  midnight  marching  past  to  the 
horrible  call  of  the  alarm-bell,  a  terrible  dread  over- 
powered her  and  would  scarcely  allow  her  to  call: 
*'  Husband,  husband !     What  is  the  matter,  Andreas  ?  '* 

He  did  not  hear,  for  the  roll  of  the  drums,  the 
tramp  of  the  soldiers'  feet  on  the  pavement  and  the 
ringing  of  the  alarm-bell  drowned  her  voice ;  but  he  saw 
her  distinctly,  and  a  strange  feeling  stole  over  him.  Her 
face,  framed  in  a  white  kerchief  and  illumined  by  the 
moonhght,  seemed  to  him  fairer  than  he  had  ever  seert 
it  since  the  days  of  his  wooing,  and  he  felt  so  youthful 
and  full  of  chivalrous  daring,  on  his  way  to  the  field  of 
danger,  that  he  drew  himself  up  to  his  full  height  and 
marched  by,  keeping  most  perfect  time  to  the  beat  of 
the  drums,  as  in  lover-like  fashion  he  threw  her  a  kiss 
with  his  left  hand,  while  waving  his  sword  in  the  right. 

The  beating  of  drums  and  waving  of  banners  had 
banished  every  gloomy  thought  from  his  mind.  So  he 
marched  on  to  the  Gansort.  There  stood  a  cart,  the 
home  of  travelling  traders,  who  had  been  roused  from 
sleep  by  the  alarm-bell,  and  were  hastily  collecting  their 
goods.  An  old  woman,  amid  bitter  lamentations,  was 
just  harnessing  a  thin  horse  to  the  shafts,  and  from  a 


184  THE    burgomaster's    WIFE. 

tiny  window  a  child's  wailing  voice  was  heard  calling, 
''  mother,  mother,"  and  then,  ''  father,  father." 

The  fencing-master  heard  the  cry.  The  smile  faded 
from  his  lips,  and  his  step  grew  heavier.  Then  he 
turned  and  shouted  a  loud  '^  Forward  "  to  his  men. 
Wilhelm  was  marching  close  behind  him  and  at  a  sign 
from  the  captain  approached ;  but  Allertssohn,  quick- 
ening his  pace,  seized  the  musician's  arm,  saying  in  a 
low  tone  : 

"  You'll  take  the  boy  to  teach  ?" 

"  Yes,  Captain.". 

^'  Good ;  you'll  be  rewarded  for  it  some  day,"  re-  : 
plied  the  fencing-master,  and  waving  his  sword,  shouted' 
*'  Liberty  to  Holland,  death  to   the  Spaniard,  long  live 
Orange!" 

The  soldiers  joyously  joined  in  the  shout,  and 
marched  rapidly  with  him  through  the  Hohenort  Gate 
into  the  open  country  and  towards  Leyderdorp. 


CHAPTER   XVHI. 

Adrian  hurried  home  with  his  vial,  and  in  his  joy  at 
bringing  the  sick  lady  relief,  forgot  her  headache  and 
struck  the  knocker  violently  against  the  door.  Barbara 
received  him  with  a  by  no  means  flattering  greeting, 
but  he  was  so  full  of  the  happiness  of  possessing  the 
dearly -bought  treasure,  that  he  fearlessly  interrupted  his 
aunt's  reproving  words,  by  exclaiming  eagerly^  m  the 
consciousness  of  his  good  cause  : 

'^  Y^ou'll  see ;  I  have  something  here  for  the  young 
lady ;  where  is  mother  ?"  *» 


THE    burgomaster's    WIFE.  1 85 

Barbara  perceived  that  the  boy  was  the  bearer  of 
some  good  tidings,  which  engrossed  his  whole  attention, 
and  the  fresh  happy  face  pleased  her  so  much,  that  she 
forgot  to  scold  and  said  smiling : 

"  You  make  me  very  curious ;  what  is  the  need  of 
so  much  hurry  ?" 

^'  I've  bought  something;  is  mother  up-stairs  ?" 

'*  Yes,  show  me  what  you  have  bought." 

*'  A  remedy.  Infallible,  I  tell  you ;  a  remedy  for 
headache." 

"  A  remedy  for  headache  ?"  asked  the  widow  in 
astonishment.     "  Who  told  you  that  fib  ?" 

'*  Fib  ?"  repeated  the  boy,  laughing.  "  I  got  it  be- 
low cost." 

*'  Show  it  to  me,  boy,"  said  Barbara  authoritatively, 
snatching  at  the  vial,  but  Adrian  stepped  back,  hid  the 
^edicine  behind  him,  and  replied : 
\J'  No,  aunt ;  I  shall  take  it  to  mother  myself" 

*'  Did  one  ever  hear  of  such  a  thing !"  cried  the 
widow.  ^'  Donkeys  dance  on  ropes,  school-boys  dabble 
in  doctor's  business  !  Show  me  the  thing  at  once  !  We 
want  no  quack  wares." 

"  Quack  wares  !"  replied  Adrian  eagerly.  "  It  cost 
all  my  fair  money,  and  it's  good  medicine," 

During  this  litde  discussion  Doctor  Bontius  came 
down-stairs  with  the  burgomaster's  wife.  He  had  heard 
the  boy's  last  words  and  asked  sternly  ; 

"  Where  did  you  get  the  stuff?" 

With  these  words,  he  seized  the  hand  of  the  lad, 
who  did  not  venture  to  resist  the  stern  man,  took  the 
httle  vial  and  printed  directions  from  him  and,  after 
Adrian  had  curtly  answered  :  ''  From  Doctor  Mor- 
purgo !"  continued  angrily  : 


1 86  THE  burgomaster's  wife.  I 

"  The  brew  is  good  to  be  thrown  away ;  only  we| 
must  take  care  not  to  poison  the  fishes  with  it,  and  thej 
thing  cost  half  a  florin.  You're  a  rich  young  man,i 
Meister  Adrian  !  If  you  have  any  superfluous  capital i 
again,  you  can  lend  it  to  me." 

These  words  spoiled  the  boy's  pleasure,  but  did  not; 
convince  him,  and  he  defiantly  turned  half  away  from! 
the  physician.  Barbara  understood  what  was  passing! 
in  his  mind,  and  whispered  compassionately  to  the  doc-j 
tor  and  her  sister-in-law :  1 

"  All  his  fair  money  to  help  the  young  lady." 

Maria  instantly  approached  the  disappointed  child,; 
drew  his  curly  head  towards  her  and  silently  kissed  his! 
forehead,  while  the  doctor  read  the  printed  label,  thenj 
without  moving  a  muscle,  said  as  gravely  as  ever : 

^'  Morpurgo  isn't  the  worst  of  quacks,  the  remedy  hej 
prescribes  here  may  do  the  young  lady  good  after  all."  ] 

Adrian  had  been  nearer  crying  than  laughing.  Now' 
he  uttered  a  sigh  of  relief,  but  still  clasped  Maria's  handj 
firmly,  as  he  again  turned  his  face  towards  the  doctor,^ 
Hstening  intendy  while  the  latter  continued :  ^ 

"Two  parts  buckbeans,  one  part  pepper-wort,  and 
half  a  part  valerian.  The  latter  specially  for  women.; 
Let  it  steep  in  boiling  water  and  drink  a  cupful  cold| 
every  morning  and  evening  !  Not  bad — really  not  bad  J 
You  have  found  a  good  remedy,  my  w^orthy  colleagueJ 
I  had  something  else  to  say  to  you,  Adrian.  My  boy^ 
are  going  to  the  English  riders  this  evening,  and  would^ 
be  glad  to  have  you  accompany  them.  You  can  begii^ 
with  the  decoction  to-day."  j 

The  physician  bowed  to  the  ladies  and  went  on;- 
Barbara  followed  him  into  the  street,  asking :  ^ 

"Are  you  in  earnest  about  the  prescription?"  ; 


I 


THE    burgomaster's    WIFE.  1 87 

''Of  course,  of  course,"  replied  the  doctor,  "my 
grandmother  used  this  remedy  for  headache,  and  she 
was  a  sensible  woman.  Evening  and  morning,  and  the 
proper  amount  of  sleep."    ' 

Henrica  occupied  a  pretty,  tastefully-furnished  room. 
The  windows  looked  out  upon  the  quiet  court-yard, 
planted  with  trees,  adjoining  the  chamois-leather  work- 
shops. She  was  allowed  to  sit  up  part  of  the  day  in  a 
cushioned  arm-chair,  supported  by  pillows.  Her  healthy 
constitution  was  rapidly  rallying.  True,  she  was  still 
weak,  and  the  headache  spoiled  whole  days  and  nights. 
Maria's  gentle  and  thoughtful  nature  exerted  a  beneficial 
influence  upon  her,  and  she  cheerfully  welcomed  Bar- 
bara, with  her  fresh  face  and  simple,  careful,  helpful  ways. 

When  Maria  told  her  about  the  purchase  Adrian 
had  made  for  her,  she  was  moved  to  tears ;  but  to  the 
boy  she  concealed  her  grateful  emotion  under  jesting 
words,  and  greeted  him  with  the  exclamation : 

"  Come  nearer,  my  preserver,  and  give  me  your 
hand." 

Afterwards,  she  always  called  him  ''  my  preserver  " 
or,  as  she  liked  to  mingle  ItaHan  words  with  her  Dutch, 
*'  Salvatore  "  or  "  Signor  Salvatore."  She  was  particu- 
larly fond  of  giving  the  people,  with  whom  she 
associated,  names  of  her  own,  and  so  called  Barbara, 
whose  Christian  name  she  thought  frightful,  "  Babetta," 
and  little  slender,  pretty  Bessie,  whose  company  she 
specially  enjoyed,  ''  the  elf"  The  burgomaster's  wife 
only  remained  *'  Frau  Maria,"  and  when  the  latter  once 
jestingly  asked  the  cause  of  such  neglect,  Henrica 
rephed  that  She  suited  her  name  and  her  name  her;  had 
she  been  called  Martha,  she  would  probably  have  named 
her  ''  Maria." 


S. 


1 88  THE  burgomaster's  wife. 

The  invalid  had  passed  a  pleasant,  painless  day,  and 
when  towards  evening  Adrian  went  to  see  the  EngHshJ 
riders  and  the  fragrance  of  the  blooming  lindens  and ! 
the  moonlight  found  their  way  through  the  open 
windows  of  her  room,  she  begged  Barbara  not  to  bring; 
a  light,  and  invited  Maria  to  sit  down  and  talk  with^ 
her.  I 

From  Adrian  and  Bessie  the  conversation  turned! 
upon  their  own  childhood.  Henrica  had  grown  up 
among  her  father's  boon  companions,  amid  the  clinking  j 
of  glasses  and  hunting-shouts,  Maria  in  a  grave  burgher  i 
household,  and  what  they  told  each  other  seemed  like^ 
tidings  from  a  strange  world.  '  | 

"  It  was  easy  for  you  to  become  the  tall,  white  lily^^ 
you  are  now,"  said  Henrica,  "but  I  must  thank  the  saints,  | 
that  I  came  off  as  well  as  I  did,  for  we  really  grew  up  - 
like  weeds,  and  if  I  hadn't  had  a  taste  for  singing  j 
and  the  family  priest  hadn't  been  such  an  admirable  j 
musician,!  might  stand  before  you  in  a  still  worse  guise.  \ 
When  will  the  doctor  let  me  hear  you  sing  ?"  j 

"  Next  week  ;  but  you  musn't  expect  too  much.  | 
You  have  too  high  an  opinion  of  me.  Remember  the  ^ 
proverb  about  still  waters.  Here  in  the  depths  it  often  \ 
looks  far  less  peaceful,  than  you  probably  suppose." 

"  But  you  have  learned  to  keep  the  surface  calm  1 
when  it  storms ;  I  haven't.  A  strange  stillness  has  i 
stolen  over  me  here.  Whether  I  owe  it  to  illness  or  to  the  \ 
atmosphere  that  pervades  this  house,  I  can't  tell ,  but  \ 
how  long  will  it  last  ?  My  soul  used  to  he  like  the  sea,  i 
when  the  hissing  waves  plunge  mto  black  gulfs,  ihe  sea-  i 
gulls  scream,  and  the  fishermen's  wives^pray  on  the  ■ 
shore.  Now  the  sea  is  calm.  Don't  be  too  much  j 
frightened,  if  it  begms  to  rage  again."  ! 


THE    burgomaster's    WIFE.  189 

At  these  words  Maria  clasped  the  excited  girl's 
;  hands,  saying  beseechingly  : 

'  "  Be  quiet,  be  quiet,  Henrica.  You  must  think  only 
of  your  recovery  now.  And  shall  I  confess  something  ? 
I  believe  everything  hard  can  be  more  easily  borne,  if 
we  can  cast  it  impatiently  forth  like  the  sea  of  which 
you  speak ;  with  me  one  thing  is  piled  on  another  and 
remains  lying  there,  as  if  buried  under  the  sand." 

''  Until  the  hurricane  comes,  that  sweeps  it  away.  I 
don't  want  to  be  an  evil  prophet,  but  you  surely  re- 
member these  words.  What  a  wild,  careless  thing  I 
was !  Then  a  day  came,  that  made  a  complete  revo- 
lution in  my  whole  nature." 

"  Did  a  false  love  wound  you  ? "  asked  Maria 
modestly. 

"  No,  except  the  false  love  of  another,"  replied  Hen-. 
rica  bitterly.  "When  I  was  a  child  this  fluttering  heart 
often  throbbed  more  quickly,  I  don't  know  how  often. 
First  I  felt  something  more  than  reverence  for  the  one- 
eyed  chaplain,  our  music-teacher,  and  every  morning 
placed  fresh  flowers  on  his  window,  which  he  never 
noticed.  Then — I  was  probably  fifteen — I  returned  the 
ardent  glances  of  Count  Brederode's  pretty  page.  Once 
he  tried  to  be  tender,  and  received  a  blow  from  my 
riding-whip.  Next  came  a  handsome  young  nobleman, 
who  wanted  to  marry  me  when  I  was  barely  sixteen,  but 
he  was  even  more  heavily  in  debt  than  my  father,  so  he 
was  sent  home.  I  shed  no  tears  for  him,  and  when,  two 
months  after,  at  a  tournament  in  Brussels,  I  saw  Don 
Frederic,  the  son  of  the  great  Duke  of  Alva,  fancied 
myself  as  much  in  love  with  him  as  ever  any  lady  wor- 
shipped her  Amadis,  though  the  affair  never  went  be- 
yond looks.     Then  the  storm,  of  which  I  have  already 


IQO  THE    burgomaster's    WIFE.  j 

spoken,  burst,  and  that  put  an  end  to  love-making.     I 
will  tell  you  more  about  this  at  some  future  time ;  I  need : 
not  conceal  it,  for  it  has  been  no  secret.     Have  you 

ever  heard  of  my  sister  ?     No  ?  •   She  was  older  than  I,  ' 
a  creature — God  never  created  anything  more  perfect. 

And  her  singing !     She  came  to  my  dead  aunt's,  and  j 

there — But  I  won't  excite  myself  uselessly — in  short,  3 

the  man  whom  she  loved  with  all  the  strength  of  her  ; 

heart  thrust  her  into  misery,  and  my  father  cursed  and  ; 

would  not  stretch  out  a  finger  to  aid  her.    I  never  knew  ] 

my  mother,  but  through  Anna  I  never  missed  her.     My  i 

sister's  fate  opened  my  eyes  to  men.     During  the  last  ■ 

few  years  many  have  wanted  me,  but  I  lacked  confi-  ' 

dence   and,  still    more,  love,  for   I    shall   never   have  \ 

anything  to  do  with  that."  \ 

"  Until  it  finds  you,"  replied  Maria.    "  It  was  wrong  i 

to  speak  of  such  things  with  you,  it  excites  you,  and  that  i 

is  bad."  j 

"  Never  mind ;  it  will  do  me  good  to  relieve  my  ] 

heart.     Did  you  love  no  one  before  your  husband  ?"  j 

"  Love  ?      No,  Henrica,  I  never  really  loved  any  \ 

one  except  him."  ; 

"  And  your  heart  waited  for  the  burgomaster,  ere  it  j 

beat  faster  ?"  ; 

"No,  it  had  not  always  remained  quiet  before;   I  ' 

grew  up  among  social  people,  old  and  young,  and  of  \ 

course  liked  some  better  than  others."  j 

"  And  surely  one  best  of  all."  j 

"I   won't  deny  it.      At   my  sister's  wedding,    my  ; 

brother-in-law's  friend,  a  young  nobleman,  came  from  \ 

Germany  and  remained  several  weeks  with  us.     I  liked  ; 

him,  and  remember  him  kindly  even  now."  \ 

"  Have  you  never  heard  from  him  again  ?"  .' 

■i 
i 


THE    BURGOMASTERS    WIFE.  191 

"  No ;  who  knows  what  has  become  of  him.  My 
brother-in-law  expected  great  things  from  him,  and  he 
I  possessed  many  rare  gifts,  but  was  reckless,  fool-hardy, 
and  a  source  of  constant  anxiety  to  his  mother." 

^'  You  must  tell  me  more  about  him." 

'^  What  is  the  use,  Henrica  ?" 

"  I  don't  want  to  talk  any  more,  but  I  should  like 
to  lie  still,  inhale  the  fragrance  of  the  lindens,  and  listen, 
only  listen." 

"  No,  you  must  go  to  bed  now.  I'll  help  you  un- 
dress and,  when  you  have  been  alone  an  hour,  come 
back  again." 

*'  One  learns  obedience  in  your  house,  but  when  my 
preserver  comes  home,  bring  him  here.  He  must  tell 
me  about  the  English  riders.  There  comes  Frau  Babetta 
with  his  decoction.  You  shall  see  that  I  take  it 
punctually." 

The  boy  returned  home  late,  for  he  had  enjoyed  all 
the  glories  of  the  fair  with  the  doctor's  children.  He 
was  permitted  to  pay  only  a  short  visit  to  Henrica,  and 
did  not  see  his  father  at  all,  the  latter  having  gone  to  a 
night  council  at  Herr  Van  Bronkhorst's. 

The  next  morning  the  fair  holidays  were  to  end, 
school  would  begin  and  Adrian  had  intended  to  finish 
his  tasks  this  evening;  but  the  visit  to  the  English  riders 
had  interfered,  and  he  could  not  possibly  appear  before 
the  rector  without  his  exercise.  He  frankly  told  Maria 
so,  and  she  cleared  a  place  for  him  at  the  table  where 
she  was  sewing,  and  helped  the  young  scholar  with 
many  a  word  and  rule  she  had  learned  with  her  dead 
brother. 

When  it  lacked  only  half  an  hour  of  midnight, 
Barbara  entered,  saying : 


192  THE    burgomaster's    WIFE. 


\ 


''  That's  enough  now.     You  can  finish  the  rest  earl; 
to-morrow  morning  before  school." 

Without  waiting  for  Maria's  reply,  she  closed  the' 
boy's  books  and  pushed  them  together.  \ 

While  thus  occupied,  the  room  shook  with  rude  J 
blows  on  the  door  of  the  house.  Maria  threw  down] 
her  sewing  and  started  from  her  seat,  while  Barbara  = 
exclaimed :  ■. 

"  For  Heaven's  sake,  what  is  it  ?"  Adrian  rushed  ^ 
into  his  father's  room  and  opened  the  window.  \ 

The  ladies  had  hurried  after  him,  and  before  they  j 
could  question  the  disturber  of  the  peace,  a  deep  voice  | 
called  : 

"  Open,  I  must  come  in." 

"  What  is  it  ?"  asked  Barbara,  who  recognized  a ' 
soldier  in  the  moonlight.  *'  We  can't  hear  our  own  ] 
voices;  stop  that  knocking."  i 

"  Call  the  burgomaster  1"  shouted  the  messenger,  i 
who  had  been  constantly  using  the  knocker.  ''  Quick, ! 
woman ;  the  Spaniards  are  coming." 

Barbara  shrieked  aloud  and  beat  her  hands.  Maria  \ 
turned  pale,  but  without  losing  her  composure,  replied :  i 

"  The  burgomaster  is  not  at  home,  but  I'll  send  for  i 
him.     Quick,  Adrian,  call  your  father." 

The  boy  rushed  down-stairs,  meeting  in  the  entry  ' 
the  man-servant  and  Trautchen,  who  had  jumped  hastily  * 
out  of  bed,  throwing  on  an  under-petticoat,  and  was  ; 
now  trying,  with  trembling  hands,  to  unlock  the  door.  ; 
The  man  pushed  her  aside,  and  as  soon  as  the  door  i 
creaked  on  its  hinges,  Adrian  darted  out  and  ran,  as  if  I 
in  a  race,  down  the  street  to  the  commissioner's.  Arriv-  \ 
ing  before  any  other  messenger,  he  pressed  through  the  j 
open  door  into  the  dmmg-hall  and  called  breathlessly  ! 


THE    BURGOMASTERS    WIFE.  1 93 

to  the  men,  who  were  holding  a  council  over  their 
wine: 

*^  The  Spaniards  are  here  ! " 

The  gentlemen  hastily  rose  from  their  seats.  One 
wanted  to  rush  to  the  citadel,  another  to  the  town-hall 
and,  in  the  excitement  of  the  moment,  no  sensible 
reflection  was  made.  Peter  Van  der  Werfif  alone  main- 
tained his  composure  and,  after  Allertssohn's  messenger 
had  appeared  and  reported  that  the  captain  and  his  men 
were  on  the  way  to  Leyderdorp,  the  burgomaster 
pointed  out  that  the  leaders'  care  should  now  be  de- 
voted to  the  people  who  had  come  to  the  fair.  He  and 
Van  Hout  undertook  to  provide  for  them,  and  Adrian 
was  soon  standing  with  his  father  and  the  city  clerk 
among  the  crowds  of  people,  who  had  been  roused 
from  sleep  by  the  wailing  iron  voice  from  the  Tower  of 
Pancratius. 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

Adrian's  activity  for  this  night  was  not  yet  over,  for 
his  father  did  not  prevent  his  accompanying  him  to  the 
town-hall.  There  he  directed  him  to  tell  his  mother, 
that  he  should  be  busy  until  morning  and  the  servant 
might  send  all  persons,  who  desired  to  speak  to  him 
after  one  o'clock,  to  the  timber-market  on  the  Rhine. 
Maria  sent  the  boy  back  to  the  town-hall,  to  ask  his 
father  if  he  did  not  want  his  cloak,  wine,  a  lunch  or 
anything  of  the  sort. 

The  boy  fulfilled  this  commission  with  great  zeal, 
for  he  never  had  felt  so  important  as  while  forcing  his 
13 


194  THE    burgomaster's   WIFE.  ] 

i 

way  through  the  crowds  that  had  gathered  in  the  nar-  \ 
rower  streets;  he  had  a  duty  to  perform,  and  at  night,] 
the  time  when  other  boys  were  asleep,  especially  his; 
school-mates,  who  certainly  would  not  be  allowed  toj 
leave  the  house  now.  Besides,  an  eventful  period,  full ; 
of  the  beating  of  drums,  the  blare  of  trumpets,  the  rattle ; 
of  musketry  and  roar  of  cannon  might  be  expected.  It  j 
seemed  as  if  the  game  ''  Holland  against  Spain"  was  to| 
be  continued  in  earnest,  and  on  a  grand  scale.  All  thej 
vivacity  of  his  years  seized  upon  him,  and  when  he  had^ 
forced  a  way  with  his  elbows  to  less  crowded  places,  he] 
dashed  hurriedly  along,  shouting  as  merrily  as  if  spread- ; 
ing  some  joyful  news  in  the  darkness  :  ^ 

"  They  are  coming!"  "the  Spaniards!"  or  '''Hannibali 
ante  portasT        ,  \ 

After  learning  on  his  return  to  the  town-hall,  that  hisj 
father  wanted  nothing  and  would  send  a  constable  if' 
there  was  need  of  anything,  he  considered  his  errand  i 
done  and  felt  entitled  to  satisfy  his  curiosity.  i 

This  drew  him  first  to  the  English  riders.  The  tentj 
where  they  had  given  their  performances  had  dis-j 
appeared  from  the  earth,  and  screaming  men  and! 
women  were  rolling  up  large  pieces  of  canvas,  fastening; 
packs,  and  swearing  while  they  harnessed  horses.  The ; 
gloomy  light  of  torches  mingled  with  the  moonbeams ; 
and  showed  him  on  the  narrow  steps,  that  led  to  a  large  j 
four-wheeled  cart,  a  little  girl  in  shabby  clothes,  weeping  j 
bitterly.  Could  this  be  the  rosy-cheeked  angel  who,] 
floating  along  on  the  snow-white  pony,  had  seemed  to  j 
him  like  a  happy  creature  from  more  beautiful  worlds  ?  \ 
A  scolding  old  woman  now  lifted  the  child  into  the  cart, ; 
but  he  followed  the  crowd  and  saw  Doctor  Morpurgo,  \ 
no   longer   clad   in   scarlet,  but   in   plain   dark   cloth,  | 


THE    BURGOMASTER^S    WIFE.  I95 

mounted  on  a  lean  horse,  riding  beside  his  cart.  The 
negro  was  furiously  urging  the  mule  forward,  but  his 
master  seemed  to  have  remained  in  full  possession  of 
the  calmness  peculiar  to  him.  His  wares  were  of 
small  value,  and  the  Spaniards  had  no  reason  to  take 
his  head  and  tongue,  by  which  he  gained  more  than  he 
needed. 

Adrian  followed  him  to  the  long  row  of  booths  in 
the  wide  street,  and  there  saw  things,  which  put  an  end 
to  his  thoughtlessness  and  made  him  reahze,  that  the 
point  in  question  now  concerned  serious,  heart-rending 
matters.  He  had  still  been  able  to  laugh  as  he  saw  the 
ginger-bread  bakers  and  cotton-sellers  fighting  hand  to 
hand,  because  in  the  first  fright  they  had  tossed  their 
packages  of  wares  hap-hazard  into  each  other's  open 
chests,  and  were  now  unable  to  separate  their  property ; 
but  he  felt  sincerely  sorry  for  the  Delft  crockery-dealer 
on  the  corner,  whose  light  booth  had  been  demolished 
by  a  large  wagon  from  Gouda,  loaded  with  bales,  and 
who  now  stood  beside  her  broken  wares,  by  means  of 
which  she  supported  herself  and  children,  wringing  her 
hands,  while  the  driver,  taking  no  notice  of  her,  urged 
on  his  horses  with  loud  cracks  of  his  whip.  A  little 
girl,  who  had  lost  her  parents  and  was  being  carried 
away  by  a  compassionate  burgher  woman,  was  weeping 
piteously.  A  poor  rope-dancer,  who  had  been  robbed 
by  a  thief  in  the  crowd,  of  the  little  tin  box  containing 
the  pennies  he  had  collected,  was  running  about, 
wringing  his  hands  and  looking  for  the  watchman.  A 
shoemaker  was  pounding  riding-boots  and  women's 
shoes  in  motley  confusion  into  a  wooden  chest  with  rope 
handles,  while  his  wife,  instead  of  helping  him,  tore  her 
hair  and  shrieked :  "  I  told  you  so,  you  fool,  you 
13* 


196  THE    burgomaster's    WIFE. 

simpleton,  you  blockhead !  They'll  come  and  rob  us 
of  everything." 

At  the  entrance  of  the  street  that  led  past  the  Assen- 
delft  house  to  the  Leibfrau  Bridge,  several  loaded 
wagons  had  become  entangled,  and  the  drivers,  instead 
of  getting  down  and  procuring  help,  struck  at  each 
other  in  their  terror,  hitting  the  women  and  children 
seated  among  the  bales.  Their  cries  and  shrieks  echoed 
a  long  distance,  but  were  destined  to  be  drowned,  for  a 
dancing-bear  had  broken  loose  and  was  putting  every 
one  near  him  to  flight.  The  people,  who  were  fright- 
ened by  the  beast,  rushed  down  the  street,  screaming 
and  yelling,  dragging  with  them  others  who  did  not 
know  the  cause  of  the  alarm,  and  misled  by  the  most 
imminent  fear,  roared:  *'The  Spaniards!  The  Span- 
iards ! "  Whatever  came  in  the  way  of  the  terrified 
throngs  was  overthrown.  A  sieve-dealer's  child,  stand- 
ing beside  its  father's  upset  cart,  fell  beneath  the  mob 
close  beside  Adrian,  who  had  stationed  himself  in  the 
door-way  of  a  house.  But  the  lad  was  crowded  so 
closely  into  his  hiding-place,  that  he  could  not  spring  to 
the  little  one's  aid,  and  his  attention  was  attracted  to  a 
new  sight,  as  Janus  Dousa  appeared  on  horseback.  In 
answer  to  the  cry  of  "  The  Spaniards !  The  Spaniards ! " 
he  shouted  loudly  :  ^'  Quiet,  people,  quiet !  The  enemy 
hasn't  come  yet !  To  the  Rhine !  Vessels  are  waiting 
there  for  all  strangers.  To  the  Rhine  1  There  are  no 
Spaniards  there,  do  you  hear,  no  Spaniards ! " 

The  nobleman  stopped  just  before  Adrian,  for  his 
horse  could  go  no  farther  and  stood  snorting  and  trem- 
bling under  his  rider.  The  advice  bore  httle  fruit,  and 
not  until  hundreds  had  rushed  past  him,  did  the 
frightened  crowd  diminish.     The  bear,  from  which  they 


THE    burgomaster's    WIFE.  197 

fled,  had  been  caught  by  a  brewer's  apprentice  and 
taken  back  to  its  owner  long  before.  The  city  con- 
stables now  appeared,  led  by  Adrian's  father,  and  the 
boy  followed  them  unobserved  to  the  timber-market  on 
the  southern  bank  of  the  Rhine.  There  another  crowd 
met  him,  for  many  dealers  had  hurried  thither  to  save 
their  property  in  the  ships.  Men  and  women  pressed 
past  bales  and  wares,  that  were  being  rolled  down  the 
narrow  wooden  bridges  to  the  vessels.  A  woman,  a 
child,  and  a  rope-maker's  cart  had  been  pushed  into 
the  water,  and  the  wildest  confusion  prevailed  around 
the  spot.  But  the  burgomaster  reached  the  place  just 
at  the  right  time,  gave  directions  for  rescuing  the  drown- 
ing people,  and  then  made  every  exertion  to  bring  order 
out  of  the  confusion. 

The  constables  were  commanded  to  admit  fugitives 
only  on  board  the  vessels  bound  for  the  places  where 
they  belonged;  two  planks  were  laid  to  every  ship,  one 
for  goods,  the  other  for  passengers ;  the  constables 
loudly  shouted  that — as  the  law  directed  when  the 
alarm-bell  rang — all  citizens  of  Ley  den  must  enter  their 
houses  and  the  streets  be  cleared,  on  pain  of  a  heavy 
penalty.  All  the  city  gates  were  opened  for  the  passage 
of  wheeled  vehicles,  except  the  Hohenort  Gate, 
which  led  to  Leyderdorp,  where  egress  was  refused. 
Thus  the  crowd  in  the  streets  was  lessened,  order 
appeared  amid  the  tumult,  and  when,  in  the  dawn  of 
morning,  Adrian  turned  his  steps  towards  home,  there 
was  little  more  bustle  in  the  streets  than  on  ordinary 
nights. 

His  mother  and  Barbara  had  been  anxious,  but  he 
told  them  about  his  father  and  m  what  manner  he  had 
put  a  stop  to  the  confusion. 


198  THE    burgomaster's    WIFE. 

While  talking,  the  rattle  of  musketry  was  heard  in 
the  distance,  awaking  such  excitement  in  Adrian's  mind, 
that  he  wanted  to  rush  out  again;  but  his  mother 
stopped  him  and  he  was  obhged  to  mount  the  stairs  to 
his  room.  He  did  not  go  to  sleep,  but  climbed  to  the 
upper  loft  in  the  gable  of  the  rear  building  and  gazed 
through  the  window,  to  which  the  bales  of  leather  were 
raised  by  pulleys,  towards  the  east,  from  whence  the 
sound  of  firing  was  still  audible.  But  he  saw  nothing 
except  the  dawn  and  light  clouds  of  smoke,  that 
assumed  a  rosy  hue  as  they  floated  upward.  As  nothing 
new  appeared,  his  eyes  closed,  and  he  fell  asleep  beside 
the  open  window  where  he  dreamed  of  a  bloody  battle 
and  the  English  riders.  His  slumber  was  so  sound,  that 
he  did  not  hear  the  rumble  of  wheels  in  the  quiet  court- 
yard below  him.  The  carts  from  which  the  noise  pro- 
ceeded belonged  to  traders  from  neighboring  cities,  who 
preferred  to  leave  their  goods  in  the  threatened  town, 
rather  than  carry  them  towards  the  advancing  Spaniards. 
Meister  Peter  had  allowed  some  of  them  to  store  their 
property  with  him.  The  carts  were  obliged  to  pass 
through  the  back-building  with  the  workshops,  and  the 
goods  liable  to  be  injured  by  the  weather,  were  to  be 
placed  in  the  course  of  the  day  in  the  large  garrets 
of  his  house. 

The  burgomaster's  wife  had  gone  to  Henrica  at  mid- 
night to  soothe  her  fears,  but  the  sick  girl  seemed  free 
from  all  anxiety,  and  when  she  heard  that  the  Spaniards 
were  on  the  march,  her  eyes  sparkled  joyously.  Maria 
noticed  it  and  turned  away  from  her  guest,  but  she 
repressed  the  harsh  words  that  sprang  to  her  lips,  wished 
her  good-night,  and  left  the  chamber. 

Henrica  gazed  thoughtfully  after  her  and  then  rose. 


THE    burgomaster's    WIFE.  I99 

for  no  sleep  was  possible  that  night.  The  alarm-bell  in 
the  Tower  of  Pancratius  rang  incessantly,  and  more 
than  once  doors  opened,  voices  and  shots  were  heard. 
Many  tones  and  noises,  whose  origin  and  nature  she 
could  not  understand,  reached  her  ears,  and  when 
morning  dawned,  the  court-yard  under  her  windows, 
usually  so  quiet,  was  full  of  busde.  Carts  ratded,  loud 
tones  mingled  excitedly,  and  a  deep  masculine  voice 
seemed  to  be  directing  what  was  going  on.  Her 
curiosity  and  restlessness  increased  every  moment.  She 
listened  so  intently  that  her  head  began  to  ache 
again,  but  could  hear  only  separate  words  and  those 
very  indistinctly.  Had  the  city  been  surrendered  to  the 
Spaniards,  had  King  Philip's  soldiers  found  quarters  in 
the  burgomaster's  house  ?  Her  blood  boiled  indignantly, 
when  she  thought  of  the  Castilians'  triumph  and  the 
humiHation  of  her  native  land,  but  soon  her  former 
joyous  excitement  again  filled  her  mind,  as  she  beheld 
in  imagination  art  re-enter  the  bare  walls  of  the  Leyden 
churches,  now  robbed  of  all  their  ornaments,  chanting 
processions  move  through  the  streets,  and  priests  in  rich 
robes  celebrating  mass  in  the  newly-decorated  taber- 
nacles, amid  beautiful  music,  the  odor  of  incense,  and 
the  ringing  of  bells.  She  expected  to  receive  from 
the  Spaniards  a  place  where  she  could  pray  and  free 
her  soul  by  confession.  Amid  her  former  surroundings 
nothing  had  afforded  her  any  support,  except  her  religion. 
A  worthy  priest,  who  was  also  her  instructor,  had  zeal- 
ously striven  to  prove  to  her,  that  the  new  religion 
threatened  to  destroy  the  mystical  consecration  of  life, 
the  yearning  for  the  beautiful,  every  ideal  emotion  of 
the  human  soul,  and  with  them  art  also;  so  Henrica 
preferred  to  see  her  native  land  Spanish  and  Catholic, 


200  THE    burgomaster's    WIFE. 

rather  than  free  from  the  foreigners  whom  she  hated 
and  Calvinistical. 

The  court-yard  gradually  became  less  noisy,  but 
when  the  first  rays  of  morning  light  streamed  into  her 
windows,  the  bustle  again  commenced  and  grew  louder. 
Heavy  soles  tramped  upon  the  pavement,  and  amid  the 
voices  that  now  mingled  with  those  she  had  formerly 
heard,  she  fancied  she  distinguished  Maria's  and  Bar- 
bara's. Yes,  she  was  not  mistaken.  That  cry  of  terror 
must  proceed  from  her  friend's  mouth,  and  was  followed 
by  exclamations  of  grief  from  bearded  lips  and  loud 
sobs. 

Evil  tidings  must  have  reached  her  host's  house,  and 
the  woman  weeping  so  impetuously  below  was  probably 
kind  "  Babetta." 

Anxiety  drove  her  from  her  bed.  On  the  little  table 
beside  it,  amid  several  bottles  and  glasses,  the  lamp  and 
the  box  of  matches,  stood  the  tiny  bell,  at  whose  faint 
sound  one  of  her  nurses  invariably  hastened  in.  Hen- 
rica  rang  it  three  times,  then  again  and  again,  but 
nobody  appeared.  Then  her  hot  blood  boiled,  and 
half  from  impatience  and  vexation,  half  from  curiosity 
and  sympathy,  she  slipped  into  her  shoes,  threw  on  a 
morning  dress,  went  to  the  chair  which  stood  on  the 
platform  in  the  niche,  opened  the  window,  and  looked 
down  at  the  groups  gathered  below. 

No  one  noticed  her,  for  the  men  who  stood  there 
sorrowing,  and  the  weeping  women,  among  whom  were 
Maria  and  Barbara,  were  listening  with  many  tokens  of 
sympathy  to  the  eager  words  of  a  young  man,  and  had 
eyes  and  ears  for  him  alone.  Henrica  recognized  in  the 
speaker  the  musician  Wilhelm,  but  only  by  his  voice, 
for  the  morion  on  his  curls  and  the  blood-stained  coat 


THE    BURGOMASTERS    WIFE.  201 

of  mail  gave  the  unassuming  artist  a  martial,  nay  heroic 
air. 

He  had  advanced  a  long  way  in  his  story,  when 
Henrica  unseen  became  a  hstener. 

"Yes,  sir,"  he  repHed,  in  answer  to  a  question  from 
the  burgomaster,  "we  followed  them,  but  they  disap- 
peared in  the  village  and  all  remained  still.  To  risk 
storming  the  houses,  would  have  been  madness.  So  we 
kept  quiet,  but  towards  two  o'clock  heard  firing  in  the 
neighborhood  of  Leyderdorp.  *  Junker  von  Warmond 
has  made  a  sally,'  said  the  captain,  leading  us  in  the 
direction  of  the  firing.  This  was  what  the  Spaniards 
had  wanted,  for  long  before  we  reached  the  goal,  a  com- 
pany of  CastiHans,  with  white  sheets  over  their  armor, 
chmbed  out  of  a  ditch  in  the  dim  light,  threw  themselves 
on  their  knees,  murmured  a  ^  Pater-noster,'  shouted  their 
San  J  ago  and  pressed  forward  upon  us.  We  had  seen 
them  in  time  for  the  halberdiers  to  extend  their  pikes, , 
and  the  musketeers  to  lie  down  amid  the  grass.  So  the 
Spaniards  had  a  warm  reception,  and  four  of  them  fell 
in  this  attack.  We  were  superior  in  numbers,  and  their 
.captain  led  them  back  to  the  ditch  in  good  order.  There 
they  halted,  for  their  duty  was  probably  to  detain  us  and 
then  have  us  cut  down  by  a  larger  body.  We  were  too 
vveak  to  drive  them  from  their  position,  but  when  the 
east  began  to  brighten  and  they  still  did  not  come  for- 
ward, the  captain  advanced  towards  them  with  the 
drummer,  bearing  a  white  flag,  and  shouted  to  them  in 
Italian,  which  he  had  learned  to  speak  a  little  in  Italy, 
that  he  wished  the  Castilian  gentlemen  good-morning, 
and  if  there  was  any  officer  with  a  sense  of  honor  among 
them,  let  him  come  forth  and  meet  a  captain  who  wished 
to  cross  swords  with  him.     He  pledged  his  word,  that 


202  THE    burgomaster's    WIFE.  j 

his  men  would  look  on  at  the  duel  without  taking  any  i 
share  in  it,  no  matter  what  the  result  might  be.  Just  at  \ 
that  moment  two  shots  were  fired  fi'om  the  ditch  and  the  \ 
bullets  whizzed  close  by  the  poor  captain.  We  called  \ 
to  him  to  save  his  life,  but  he  did  not  stir,  and  shouted  ■ 
that  they  were  cowards  and  assassins,  like  their  king.        ; 

"  Meantime  it  had  grown  tolerably  light — we  heard  \ 
them  calling  to  and  fro  from  the  ditch,  and  just  as  \ 
Allertssohn  was  turning  away,  an  officer  sprang  into  the  | 
meadow,  exclaiming:  *  Stand,  braggart,  and  draw  your  i 
blade.'  \ 

^'The  captain  drew  his  Brescian  sword,  bowed  to  his  ; 
enemy  as  if  he  were  in  the  fencing-school,  bent  the  steel  • 
and  closed  with  the  Castilian.  The  latter  was  a  thin  j 
man  of  stately  figure  and  aristocratic  bearing,  and  as  it  j 
soon  appeared,  a  dangerous  foe.  He  circled  like  a  whirl-  j 
wind,  round  the  captain  with  bounds,  thrusts  and  feints,  ; 
but  Allertssohn  maintained  his  composure,  and  at  first  i 
confined  himself  to  skilful  parrying.  Then  he  dealt  a  J 
magnificent  quarte,  and  when  the  other  parried  it,  ! 
followed  with  the  tierce,  and  this  being  warded  ofi",  gave  i 
with  the  speed  of  Hghtning  a  side-thrust  such  as  only  : 
he  can  deal.  The  Castilian  fell  on  his  knees,  for  the 
Brescian  blade  had  pierced  his  lungs.  His  death  was. 
speedy.  \ 

"  As  soon  as  he  lay  on  the  turf,  the  Spaniards  again  ■ 
rushed  upon  us,  but  we  repulsed  them  and  took  the  ' 
officer's  body  in  our  midst.  Never  have  I  seen  the  i 
captain  so  proud  and  happy.  You,  Junker  von  War-  ; 
mond,  can  easily  guess  the  cause.  He  had  now  done  | 
honor  to  his  series  in  a  genuine  duel  against  an  enemy  \ 
of  equal  rank,  and  told  me  this  was  the  happiest  mom-  i 
ing  of  his  life.     Then  he  ordered  us  to  march  round  the  1 


THE    BURGOMASTER  S    WIFE.  203 

ditch  and  attack  the  enemy  on  the  flank.  But  scarcely- 
had  we  begun  to  move,  when  the  expected  troops  from 
Leyderddrp  pressed  forward,  their  loud  San  Jago  re- 
sounding far  and  wide,  while  at  the  same  time  the  old 
enemy  rose  from  the  ditch  and  attacked  us.  Allertssohn 
rushed  forward,  but  did  not  reach  them — oh,  gentle- 
men !  I  shall  never  forgetr  it,  a  bullet  struck  him  down 
at  my  side.  It  probably  pierced  his  heart,  for  he  said 
nothing  but :  *  Remember  the  boy  !'  stretched  out  his 
powerful  frame  and  died.  We  wanted  to  bear  his  body 
away  with  us,  but  were  pressed  by  superior  numbers, 
and  it  was  hard  enough  to  come  within  range  of  Junker 
von  Warmond's  volunteers.  The  Spaniards  did  not 
venture  so  far.  Here  we  are.  The  Castilian's  body  is 
lying  in  the  tower  at  the  Hohenort  Gate.  These  are 
the  papers  we  found  in  the  dead  man's  doublet,  and 
this  is  his  ring ;  he  has  a  proud  escutcheon." 

Peter  Van  der  Werff  took  the  dead  man's  letter-case 
in  his  hand,  looked  through  it  and  said  :  "  His  name 
was  Don  Luis  d'Avila." 

He  said  no  more,  for  his  wife  had  seen  Henrica's 
head  stretched  far  out  of  the  window,  and  cried  loudly 
in  terror :  "  Fraulein,  for  Heaven's  sake,  Fraulein — 
what  are  you  doing  ?" 


CHAPTER  XX. 

The  burgomaster's  wife  had  been  anxious  about 
Henrica,  but  the  latter  greeted  her  with  special  cheerful- 
ness and  met  her  gentle  reproaches  with  the  assurance 
that  this  morning  had  done  her  good.     Fate,  she  said, 


204  THE    BURGOMASTER  S    WIFE.  ' 

was  just,  and  if  it  were  true  that  confidence  of  recovery  5 
helped  the  physician,  Doctor  Bontius  would  have  an  easy  i 
task  with  her.  The  dead  Castilian  must  be  the  wretch,  ■ 
who  had  plunged  her  sister  Anna  into  misery.  Maria,  j 
surprised,  but  entirely  relieved,  left  her  and  sought  her  ] 
husband  to  tell  him  how  she  had  found  the  invalid,  and  i 
in  what  relation  the  Spanish  officer,  slain  by  Allertssohn,  j 
seemed  to  have  stood  to  Henrica  and  her  sister.  Peter  ] 
only  Imlf  listened  to  her,  and  when  Barbara  brought  him  '[ 
a  freshly-ironed  ruff,  interrupted  his  wife  in  the  middle  of  ' 
her  story,  gave  her  the  dead  man's  letter-case,  and  said :  i 

"There,  let  her  satisfy  herself,  and  bring  it  to  me  \ 
again  in  the  evening,  I  shall  hardly  be  able  to  come  to  i 
dinner;  I  suppose  you'll  see  poor  AUertssohn's  widow  j 
in  the  course  of  the  day."  j 

"Certainly,"  she  answered  eagerly.  "Whom  will  | 
you  appoint  in  his  place  ?"  ; 

"That  is  for  the  Prince  to  decide."  ^ 

"  Have  you  thought  of  any  means  of  keeping  the  1 
communication  with  Delft  free  from  the  enemy?" 

"On  your  mother's  account?"  \ 

"  Not  solely.  Rotterdam  also  lies  to  the  south.  We  I 
can  expect  nothing  from  Haarlem  and  Amsterdam,  that  .- 
is,  from  the  north,  for  everything  there  is  in  the  hands  of  ; 
the  Spaniards."  : 

"  I'll  get  you  a  place  in  the  council  of  war.  Where  ; 
do  you  learn  your  wisdom  ?" 

"  We  have  our  thoughts,  and  isn't  it  natural  that  I  I 
should  rather  follow  you  into  the  future  with  my  eyes  \ 
open,  than  blindly?  Has  the  English  troop  been  used  ; 
to  secure  the  fortifications  on  the  old  canal?  Kaak  too  ; 
is  an  important  point."  | 

Peter  gazed  at  his  wife  in  amazement,  and  the  sense   ; 


THE    BURGOMASTERS    WIFE.  205 

of  discomfort  experienced  by  an  unskilful  writer,  when 
some  one  looks  over  his  shoulder,  stole  over  him.  She 
had  pointed  out  a  bad,  momentous  error,  which,  it  is 
true,  did  not  burden  him  alone,  and  as  he  certainly  did 
not  wish  to  defend  it  to  her,  and  moreover  might  have 
found  justification  difficult,  he  made  no  reply,  saying 
nothing  but:  "Men's  affairs!  Good-bye  until  evening." 
With  these  words  he  walked  past  Barbara,  towards  the 
door. 

Maria  did  not  know  how  it  happened,  but  before  he 
laid  his  hand  on  the  latch  she  gained  sufficient  self-com- 
mand to  call  after  him  : 

"  Are  you  going  so,  Peter !  Is  that  right  ?  What 
did  you  promise  me  on  your  return  from  the  journey  to 
the  Prince  ?" 

"  I  know,  I  know,"  he  answered  impatiently.  "  We 
cannot  serve  two  masters,  and  in  these  times  I  beg  you 
not  to  trouble  me  with  questions  and  matters  that  don't 
concern  you.  To  direct  the  business  of  the  city  is  my 
affair;  you  have  your  invalid,  the  children,  the  poor;  let 
that  suffice." 

Without  waiting  for  her  reply  he  left  the  room,  while 
she  stood  motionless,  gazing  after  him. 

Barbara  watched  her  anxiously  for  several  minutes, 
then  busied  herself  with  the  papers  on  her  brother's 
writing-table,  saying  as  if  to  herself,  though  turning 
slightly  towards  her  sister-in-law  : 

"  Evil  times !  Let  every  one,  who  is  not  oppressed 
with  such  burdens  as  Peter,  thank  the  Lord.  He  has 
to  bear  the  responsibility  of  everything,  and  people 
can't  dance  lightly  with  hundred-pound  weights  on 
their  legs.  Nobody  has  a  better  heart,  and  nobody 
means   more   honestly.      How  the  traders  at   the  fair 


206  THE   burgomaster's    WIFE. 


I 


praised  his  caution !  In  the  storm  people  know  the 
pilot,  and  Peter  was  always  greatest,  when  things  were  ' 
going  worst.  He  knows  what  he  is  undertaking,  but '. 
the  last  few  weeks  have  aged  him  years."  .       \ 

Maria  nodded.  Barbara  left  the  room,  but  returning  i 
after  a  few  minutes,  said  beseechingly :  ] 

"  You  look  ill,  child,  come  and  lie  down.  An  hour's  j 
sleep  is  better  than  three  meals.  At  your  age,  such  a ; 
night  as  this  last  one  doesn't  pass  without  leaving  traces.  | 
The  sun  is  shining  so  brightly,  that  I've"  drawn  your^ 
window-curtains.  I've  made  your  bed,  too.  Be  sensible  ■ 
and  come."  ; 

While  uttering  the  last  words,  she  took  Maria's  hand  | 
and  drew  her  away.  The  young  wife  made  no  resist-  \ 
ance,  and  though  her  eyes  did  not  remain  dry  when  she  i 
was  alone,  sleep  soon  overpowered  her.  | 

Towards   noon,  refreshed  by   slumber,  and  newly ! 
dressed,  she  went  to  the  captain's  house.     Her   own  \ 
heart  was  heavy,  and  compassion  for  herself  and  her  ] 
own  fate  again  had  the  mastery.     Eva  Peterstochter,  | 
the   fencing-master's  widow,  a   quiet,  modest   woman,  | 
whom  she  scarcely  knew  by  sight,  did  not  appear.    She 
was  sitting  alone  in  her  room,  weeping,  but  Maria  found 
in  her  house  the  musician,  Wilhelm,  who  had  spoken 
comforting  words  to  his  old  friend's  son,  and  promised  ^ 
to  take  charge  of  him  and  make  him  a  good  performer.  ; 

The  burgomaster's  wife  sent  a  message  to  the  widow,  j 
begging  to  see  her  the  next  day,  and  then  went  out  into  j 
the  street  with  Wilhelm.  Everywhere  groups  of  citizens,  I 
women,  and  journeymen  were  standing  together,  talking  \ 
about  what  had  happened  and  the  coming  trouble.  ; 
While  Maria  was  telling  the  musician  who  the  deadj 
Castilian  was,  and  that  Henrica  desired  to  speak^^vith 


THE    BURGOMASTER'S    WIFE.  207 

him,  Wilhelm,  as  soon  as  possible,  she  was  interrupted 
more  than  once;  for  sometimes  a  company  of  volunteers 
or  city  guards,  relieved  from  duty  in  the  towers  and  on 
the  walls,  sometimes  a  cannon  barred  their  way.  Was  it 
the  anticipation  of  coming  events,  or  the  beat  of  drums 
and  blare  of  trumpets,  which  so  excited  her  companion, 
that  he  often  pressed  his  hand  to  his  forehead  and  she 
was  obHged  to  request  him  to  slacken  his  pace.  There 
was  a  strange,  constrained  tone  in  his  voice  as,  in  ac- 
cordance with  her  request,  he  told  her  that  the 
Spaniards  had  come  by  ship  up  the  Amstel,  the  Drecht, 
and  the  Brasem  See  to  the  Rhine  and  landed  at  Ley- 
derdorp. 

A  mounted  messenger  wearing  the  Prince's  colors, 
and  followed  not  only  by  children,  but  by  grown  persons, 
who  ran  after  him  eager  to  reach  the  town-hall  at  the 
same  time,  interrupted  Wilhelm,  and  as  soon  as  the 
crowd  had  passed,  the  burgomaster's  wife  asked  her 
companion  one  question  after  another.  The  noise  of 
war,  the  firing  audible  in  the  distance,  the  gay  military 
costumes  everywhere  to  be  seen  in  place  of  the  darker 
citizens'  dress,  also  aroused  her  eager  interest,  and  what 
she  learned  from  Wilhelm  was  little  calculated  to 
diminish  it.  The  main  body  of  the  Spanish  troops  was 
on  the  way  to  the  Hague.  The  environment  of  the 
city  had  commenced,  but  the  enemy  could  hardly  suc- 
ceed in  his  purpose;  for  the  English  auxiHaries,  who 
were  to  defend  the  new  fortifications  of  Valkenburg,  the 
village  of  Alfen,  and  the  Gouda  sluice  might  be  trusted. 
Wilhelm  had  seen  the  British  soldiers,  their  commander. 
Colonel  Chester,  and  Captain  Gensfort,  and  praised  their 
superb  equipments  and  stately  bearing. 

^n  reaching  her  own  house,  Maria  attempted  to 


208  THE    burgomaster's    WIFE. 


1 


take  leave  of  her  companion,  but  the  latter  earnestly  ' 
entreated  permission  to  have  an  interview  with  Henrica  ^ 
at  once,  and  could  scarcely  be  convinced  that  he  must  l 
have  patience  until  the  doctor  had  given  his  consent.        I 

At  dinner  Adrian,   who  when  his  father  was  not  ■ 
present,  talked  freely  enough,  related  all  sorts  of  things  i 
he  had  seen  himself,  as  well  as  news  and  rumors  heard   i 
at  school  and  in  the  street,  his  eloquence  being  no  little 
encouraged  by  his  step-mother's  eager  questions.  ] 

Intense  anxiety  had  taken  possession  of  the  burgo-  j 
master's  wife.  Her  enthusiasm  for  the  cause  of  liberty,  H 
to  which  her  most  beloved  relatives  had  fallen  victims,  J 
blazed  brightly,  and  wrath  against  the  oppressors  of  her  ^ 
native  land  seethed  passionately  in  her  breast.  The  j 
delicate,  maidenly,  reserved  woman,  who  was  utterly  i 
incapable  of  any  loud  or  rude  expression  of  feeling  in  '\ 
ordinary  life,  would  now  have  rushed  to  the  walls,  like  1 
Kanau  Hasselaer  of  Haarlem,  to  fight  the  foe  among  i 
the  men.  ! 

Offended  pride,  and  everything  that  an  hour  ago  ■ 
had  oppressed  her  heart,  yielded  to  sympathy  for  her  j 
country's  cause.  Animated  with  fresh  courage,  she  went  | 
to  Henrica  and,  as  evening  had  closed  in,  sat  down  by  ; 
the  lamp  to  write  to  her  mother ;  for  she  had  neglected  ; 
to  do  so  since  the  invahd's  arrival,  and  communication  . 
with  Delft  might  soon  be  interrupted.  : 

When  she  read  over  the  completed  letter,  she  was  • 
satisfied  with  it  and  herself,  for  it  breathed  firm  con-  \ 
fidence  in  the  victory  of  the  good  cause,  and  also  5 
distinctly  and  unconstrainedly  expressed  her  cheerful  ; 
willingness  to  bear  the  worst.  \ 

Barbara  had  retired  when  Peter  at  last  appeared,  so  j 
weary  that  he  could  scarcely  touch  the  meal  that  had  I 


THE    BURGOMASTER  S    WIFE.  209 

been  kept  ready  for  him.  While  raising  the  food  to  his 
lips,  he  confirmed  the  news  Maria  had  already  heard  from 
the  musician,  and  was  gentle  and  kind,  but  his  appear- 
ance saddened  her,  for  it  recalled  Barbara's  allusion  to 
the  heavy  burden  he  had  assumed.  To-day,  for  the  first 
time,  she  noticed  two  deep  lines  that  anxiety  had  fur- 
rowed between  his  eyes  and  lips,  and  full  of  tender 
compassion,  went  behind  him,  laid  her  hands  on  his 
cheeks  and  kissed  him  on  the  forehead.  He  trembled 
slightly,  seized  her  slender  right  hand  so  impetuously 
that  she  shrank  back,  raised  it  first  to  his  lips,  then  to 
his  eyes,  and  held  it  there  for  several  minutes. 

At  last  he  rose,  passed  before  her  into  his  sleeping- 
room,  bade  her  an  affectionate  good-night,  and  lay  down 
to  rest.  When  she  too  sought  her  bed,  he  was  breathing 
heavily.  Extreme  fatigue  had  quickly  overpowered 
him.  The  slumber  of  both  was  destined  to  be  frequently 
interrupted  during  this  night,  and  whenever  Maria 
woke,  she  heard  her  husband  sigh  and  moan.  She  did 
not  stir,  that  she  might  not  disturb  the  sleep  he  sought 
and  needed,  and  twice  held  her  breath,  for  he  was  talk- 
ing to  himself.  First  he  murmured  softly  :  *'  Heavy, 
too  heavy,"  and  then :     "  If  I  can  only  bear  it." 

When  she  awoke  next  morning,  he  had  already  left 
the  room  and  gone  to  the  town-hall.  At  noon  he  re- 
turned home,  saying  that  the  Spaniards  had  taken  the 
Hague  and  been  hailed  with  delight  by  the  pitiful 
adherents  of  the  king.  Fortunately,  the  well-disposed 
citizens  and  Beggars  had  had  time  to  escape  to  Delft,  for 
brave  Nicolas  Ruichhaver  had  held  the  foe  in  check 
for  a  time  at  Geestburg.  The  west  was  still  open,  and 
the  newly-fortified  fort  of  Valkenburg,  garrisoned  by 
the  English  soldiers,  would  not  be  so  easy  to  storm.     On 

14 


2IO  THE    BURGOMASTERS    WIFE.  | 

the  east,  other  British  auxiUaries  were  posted  at  Alfen  in  ; 
the  Spaniards'  rear.  rv 

The  burgomaster  told  all  this  unasked,  but  did  not ;] 
speak  as  freely  and  naturally  as  when  conversing  with;| 
men.  While  talking,  he  often  looked  into  his  plate  and  i 
hesitated.  It  seemed  as  if  he  were  obliged  to  impose  | 
a  certain  restraint  upon  himself,  in  order  to  speak  before  | 
women,  servants,  and  children,  of  matters  he  w^as  in  the  j 
habit  of  discussing  only  with  men  of  his  own  position.  I 
Maria  listened  attentively,  but  maintained  a  modest  ] 
reserve,  urging  him  only  by  loving  looks  and  sympa-  \ 
thizing  exclamations,  while  Barbara  boldly  asked  one  ,| 
question  after  another.  \ 

The  meal  was  approaching  an  end,  when  Junker  von  \ 
Warmond  entered  unannounced,  and  requested  the  i 
burgomaster  to  accompany  him  at  once,  for  Colonel  ] 
Chester  was  standing  before  the  White  Gate  with  a  j 
portion  of  his  troops,  asking  admittance  to  the  city.  ; 

At  these  tidings,  Peter  dashed  his  mug  of  beer  i 
angrily  on  the  table,  sprang  from  his  seat,  and  left  the  ^ 
room  before  the  nobleman.  I 

During  the  late  hours  of  the  afternoon,  the  Van  der  j 
Werff  house  was  crowded  with  people.  The  gossips  ] 
came  to  talk  over  with  Barbara  the  events  occurring  at  j 
the  White  Gate.  Burgomaster  Van  Swieten's  wife  had  i 
heard  from  her  own  husband,  that  the  Englishmen,  with-  i 
out  making  any  resistance,  had  surrendered  the  beautiful  ] 
new  fort  of  Valkenburg  and  taken  to  their  heels,  at  the  \ 
mere  sight  of  the  Spaniards.  The  enemy  had  marched  ; 
out  from  Haarlem  through  the  downs  above  Nordwyk,  \ 
and  it  would  have  been  an  easy  matter  for  the  Britons  i 
to  hold  the  strong  position.  \ 

"  Fine  aid  such  helpers   give  !"  cried  Barbara  in  dig-  j 


THE    burgomaster's    WIFE.  211 

nantly.  "  Let  Queen  Elizabeth  keep  the  men  on  her 
island  for  herself,  and  send  us  the  women." 

"  Yet  they  are  real  sons  of  Anak,  and  bear  them- 
selves like  trim  soldiers,"  said  the  wife  of  the  magistrate 
Heemskerk.  "  High  boots,  doublets  of  fine  leather,  gay 
plumes  in  their  morions  and  hats,  large  coats  of  mail, 
halberds  that  would  kill  half  a  dozen — and  all  like  new." 

^'  They  probably  didn't  want  to  spoil  them,  and  so 
found  a  place  of  safety  as  soon  as  possible,  the  windy 
cowards,"  cried  the  wife  of  Church-warden  de  Haes, 
whose  sharp  tongue  was  well  known.  "  You  seem  to 
have  looked  at  them  very  closely,  Frau  Margret." 

^'  From  the  wind-mill  at  the  gate,"  replied  the  other. 
"  The  envoy  stopped  on  the  bridge  directly  under  us. 
A  handsome  man  on  a  stately  horse.  His  trumpeter 
too  was  mounted,  and  the  velvet  cloth  on  his  trumpet 
bristled  with  beautful  embroidery  in  gold  thread  and 
jewels.  They  earnestly  entreated  admittance,  but  the 
gate  remained  closed." 

"  Right,  right ! "  cried  Frau  Heemskerk.  "  I  don't 
like  the  Prince's  commissioner,  Van  Bronkhorst.  What 
does  he  care  for  us,  if  only  the  Queen  doesn't  get  angry 
and  withdraw  the  subsidies  ?  I've  heard  he  wants  to 
accommodate  Chester  and  grant  him  admission." 

"  He  would  like  to  do  so,"  added  Frau  Van  Hout. 
"But  your  husband,  Frau  Maria,  and  mine — I  was 
talking  with  him  on  the  way  here — will  make  every 
effort  to  prevent  it.  The  two  Seigneurs  of  Nordwyk 
are  of  their  opinion,  so  perhaps  the  commissioner  will 
be  out-voted." 

"  May  God  grant  it !"  cried  the  resolute  voice  of 
Wilhelm's  mother.  "  By  to-morrow  or  the  day  after, 
not  even  a  cat  will  be  allowed  to  leave  the  gates,  and 
14  * 


212  THE    BURGOMASTERS    WIFE.  \8 

my  husband  says  we  must  begin  to  save  provisions  at  '■=■ 
once." 

"  Five  hundred  more  consumers  in  the  city,  to  lessen  ; 
our  children's  morsels;  that  would  be  fine  business  1"  \ 
cried  Frau  de  Haes,  throwing  herself  back  in  her  chair  i 
so  violently,  that  it  creaked,  and  beating  her  knees  with  j 
her  hands.  J 

"  And  they  are  Englishmen,  Frau  Margret,  English-  i 
men,"  said  the  Receiver-General's  wife.  "  They  don't  \ 
eat,  they  don't  consume,  they  devour.  We  supply  j 
our  troops;  but  Herr  von  Nordwyk  —  I  mean  the  ^ 
younger  one,  who  has  been  at  the  Queen's  court  as  the  j 
Prince's  ambassador,  told  my  Wilhelm  what  a  British  \ 
glutton  can  gobble.  They'll  clear  off  your  beef  like  ; 
cheese,  and  our  beer  is  dish-water  compared  with  their  : 
black  malt  brew."  ] 

"All  that  might  be  borne,"  replied  Barbara,  "if  they  I 
were  stout  soldiers.  We  needn't  mind  a  hundred  head  i 
of  cattle  more  or  less,  and  the  glutton  becomes  tem-  i 
perate,  when  a  niggard  rules  the  house.  But  I  wouldn't  j 
take  one  of  our  Adrian's  grey  rabbits  for  these  run-  ; 
aways."  | 

"  It  would  be  a  pity,"  said  Frau  de  Haes.  "  I  shall  ] 
go  home  now,  and  if  I  find  my  husband,  he'll  learn  ; 
what  sensible  people  think  of  the  Englishmen."  , 

"  Gently,  my  friend,  gently,"  said  Burgomaster  Van  j 
Swieten's  wife,  who  had  hitherto  been  playing  quietly  ; 
with  the  cat.  "  Believe  me,  it  will  be  just  the  same  on  ; 
the  whole,  whether  we  admit  the  auxiliaries  or  not,  for  i 
before  the  gooseberries  in  our  gardens  are  ripe,  all  resist-  \ 
ance  will  be  over."  ] 

Maria,  who  was  passing  cakes  and  hippocras,  set  j 
her  waiter  on  the  table  and  asked :  j 


THE    burgomaster's    WIFE.  213 

"  Do  you  wish  that,  Frau  Magtelt  ?  " 

"  I  do,"  replied  the  latter  positively,  "  and  many  sen- 
sible people  wish  it  too.  No  resistance  is  possible  against 
such  superior  force,  and  the  sooner  we  appeal  to  the 
King's  mercy,  the  more  surely  it  will  be  granted." 

The  other  women  listened  to  the  bold  speaker  in 
silence,  but  Maria  approached  and  answered  indig- 
nantly : 

"  Whoever  says  tliat^  can  go  to  the  Spaniards  at 
once;  whoever  says  that,  desires  the  disgrace  of  the  city 
and  country;  whoever  says  that  —  " 

Frau  Magtelt  interrupted  Maria  with  a  forced  laugh, 
saying : 

"  Do  you  want  to  school  experienced  women, 
Madam  Early-Wise  ?  Is  it  customary  to  attack  a 
visitor  ?  " 

"  Customary  or  not,"  replied  the  other,  ''  I  will 
never  permit  such  words  in  our  house,  and  if  they 
crossed  the  lips  of  my  own  sister  I  would  say  to  her : 
Go,  you  are  my  friend  no  longer ! " 

Maria's  voice  trembled,  and  she  pointed  with  out- 
stretched arm  towards  the  door. 

Frau  Magtelt  struggled  for  composure,  but  as  she 
left  the  room  found  nothing  to  say,  except :  ^'  Don't  be 
troubled,  don't  be  troubled — you  won't  see  me  again." 

Barbara  followed  the  offended  woman,  and  while 
those  who  remained  fixed  their  eyes  in  embarrassment 
upon  their  laps,  Wilhelm's  mother  exclaimed : 

*'  Well  said,  little  woman,  well  said !" 

Herr  Van  Hout's  kind  wife  threw  her  arm  around 
Maria,  kissed  her  forehead,  and  whispered : 

"  Turn  away  from  the  other  women  and  dry  your 
eyes." 


214  THE    BURGOMASTER^S    WIFE. 


CHAPTER   XXL 

A  STORY  is  told  of  a  condemned  man,  whom  his 
cruel  executioner  cast  into  a  prison  of  ingenious  struc- 
ture. Each  day  the  walls  of  this  cage  grew  narrower 
and  narrower,  each  day  they  pressed  nearer  and  nearer 
to  the  unfortunate  prisoner,  until  in  despair  he  died  and 
the  dungeon  became  his  coffin.  Even  so,  league  by 
league,  the  iron  barriers  of  the  Spanish  regiments  drew 
nearer  and  nearer  Leyden,  and,  if  they  succeeded  in 
destroying  the  resistance  of  their  victim,  the  latter  was 
threatened  with  a  still  more  cruel  and  pitiless  end  than 
that  of  the  unhappy  prisoner.  The  girdle  Valdez,  King 
Philip's  commander,  and  his  skilful  lieutenant,  Don 
Ayala,  had  drawn  around  the  city  in  less  than  two  days, 
was  already  nearly  closed,  the  fort  of  Valkenburg, 
strengthened  with  the  utmost  care,  belonged  to  the 
enemy,  and  the  danger  had  advanced  more  rapidly  and 
with  far  more  irresistible  strength,  than  even  the  most 
timid  citizens  had  feared.  If  Leyden  fell,  its  houses 
would  be  delivered  to  fire  and  pillage,  its  men  to  death, 
its  women  to  disgrace — this  was  guaranteed  by  the  fate 
of  other  conquered  cities  and  the  Spanish  nature. 

Who  could  imagine  the  guardian  angel  of  the  busy 
city,  except  under  a  sullen  sky,  with  clouded  brow  and 
anxious  eyes,  and  yet  it  looked  as  gay  and  bright  at  the 
White  Gate  as  if  a  spring  festival  was  drawing  to  a 
close  with  a  briUiant  exhibition.  Wherever  the  walls, 
as  far  as  Catherine's  Tower,  afforded  a  foothold,  they 


THE    burgomaster's    WIFE.  215 

were  crowded  with  men,  women,  and  childrenc  The 
old  masonry  looked  like  the  spectators'  seats  in  an 
arena,  and  the  buzzing  of  the  many-headed,  curious 
crowd  was  heard  for  a  long  distance  in  the  city. 

It  is  a  kind  dispensation  of  Providence,  that  enables 
men  to  enjoy  a  brief  ghmpse  of  sunshine  amid  terrible 
storms,  and  thus  the  journeymen  and  apprentices,  women 
and  children,  forgot  the  impending  danger  and  feasted 
their  eyes  on  the  beautifully-dressed  English  soldiers, 
who  were  looking  up  at  them,  nodding  and  laughing 
saucily  to  the  young  girls,  though  part  of  them,  it  is 
true,  were  awaiting  with  thoughtful,  faces  the  results  of 
the  negotiations  going  on  within  the  walls. 

The  doors  of  the  White  Gate  now  opened;  Com- 
missioner Van  Bronkhorst,  Van  der  Werff,  Van  Hout 
and  other  leaders  of  the  community  accompanied  the 
British  colonel  and  his  trumpeter  to  the  bridge.  The 
former  seemed  to  be  filled  with  passionate  indignation 
and  several  times  struck  his  hand  on  the  hilt  of  his 
sword,  the  Leyden  magistrates  were  talking  to  him,  and 
at  last  took  leave  with  low  bows,  which  he  answered 
only  with  a  haughty  wave  of  the  hand.  The  citizens 
returned,  the  portals  of  the  gate  closed,  the  old  lock 
creaked,  the  iron-shod  beams  fell  back  into  their  places, 
the  chains  of  the  drawbridge  ratded  audibly,  and  the 
assembled  throng  now  knew  that  the  EngHshmen  had 
been  refused  admittance  to  the  city. 

Loud  cheers,  mingled  with  many  an  expression  of 
displeasure,  were  heard.  "Long  live  Orange  !"  shouted 
the  boys,  among  whom  were  Adrian  and  the  son  of  the 
dead  fencing-master  Allertssohn;  the  women  waved 
their  handkerchiefs,  and  all  eyes  were  fixed  on  the 
Britons.     A  loud  flourish  of  trumpets  was  heard,  the 


2l6  THE    burgomaster's    WIFE. 

English  mounted  officers  dashed  towards  the  colonel 
^nd  held  a  short  council  of  war  with  him,  interrupted  by 
hasty  words  from  several  individuals,  and  soon  after  a 
signal  was  sounded.  The  soldiers  hurriedly,  formed  in 
iTiarching  array,  many  of  them  shaking  their  fists  at  the 
•city.  Halberds  and  muskets,  which  had  been  stacked, 
Avere  seized  by  their  owners  and,  amid  the  beating  of 
drums  and  blare  of  trumpets,  order  arose  out  of  the  con- 
fusion.. Individuals  fell  into  ranks,  ranks  into  companies, 
gay  flags  were  unfurled  and  flung  to  the  evening  breeze, 
and  with  loud  hurrahs  the  troops  marched  along  the 
Rhine  towards  the  south-west,  where  the  Spanish  out- 
posts were  stationed. 

The  Leyden  boys  joined  loudly  in  the  Englishmen's 
^heer. 

Even  Andreas,  the  fencing-ni aster's  son,  had  begun 
to  shout  with  them;  but  when  he  saw  a  tall  captain 
marching  proudly  before  his  company,  his  voice  failed 
and,  covering  his  eyes  with  his  hands,  he  ran  home  to 
his  mother. 

The  other  lads  did  not  notice  him,  for  the  setting 
sun  flashlft  so  brightly  on  the  coats  of  mail  and  helmets ' 
of  the  soldiers,  the  trumpets  sounded  so  merrily,  the 
officers'  steeds  caracoled  so  proudly  under  their  riders, 
the  gay  plumes  and  banners  and  the  smoke  of  the  glim- 
mering matches  gained  such  beautiful  hues  in  the  roseate 
light  of  sunset,  that  eyes  and  ears  seemed  spellbound  by 
the  spectacle.  But  a  fresh  incident  now  attracted  the 
attention  of  great  and  small. 

Thirty-six  Englishmen,  among  them  several  officers, 
lingered  behind  the  others  and  approached  the  gate. 
Again  the  lock  creaked  and  the  chains  ratded.  The 
little  band  was  admitted  to  the  city  and  welcomed  at 


THE    burgomaster's    WIFE.  llj 

the  first  houses  of  the  northern  end  by  Herr  Van  Bronk- 
horst  and  the  burgomaster. 

Every  one  on  the  walls  had  expected,  that  a  skirmish 
between  the  retreating  Enghshmen  and  Castihans  would 
now  take  place  before  their  eyes.  But  they  were  greatly 
mistaken.  Before  the  first  ranks  reached  the  enemy, 
the  matches  for  lighthig  the  cannon  flew  through  the 
air,  the  banners  were  lowered,  and  when  darkness  came 
and  the  curious  spectators  dispersed,  they  knew  that  the 
Enghshmen  had  deserted  the  good  cause  and  gone  over 
to  the  Spaniards. 

The  thirty-six  men,  who  had  been  admitted  through 
the  gates,  were  the  only  ones  who  refused  to  be  acces- 
sory to  this  treason. 

The  task  of  providing  quarters  for  Captain  Crom- 
well and  the  other  Englishmen  and  Netherlanders,  who 
had  remained  faithful,  was  assigned  to  Van  Hout. 
Burgomaster  Van  der  Werff  went  home  with  Commis- 
sioner Van  Bronkhorst.  Many  a  low-voiced  but  violent 
word  had  been  exchanged  between  them.  The  com- 
missioner protested  that  the  Prince  would  be  highly 
incensed  at  the  refusal  to  admit  the  Englishmen,  for 
with  good  reason  he  set  great  value  on  Queen  Elizabeth's 
favorable  disposition  to  the  cause  of  freedom,  to  which 
the  burgomaster  and  his  friends  had  rendered  bad 
service  that  day.  Van  der  Werff  denied  this,  for  every- 
thing depended  upon  holding  Leyden.  After  the  fall 
of  this  city,  Delft,  Rotterdam  and  Gouda  would  also  be 
lost,  and  all  farther  efforts  to  battle  for  the  liberty  of 
Holland  useless.  Five  hundred  consumers  would  pre- 
maturely exhaust  the  already  insufficient  stock  of 
provisions.  Everything  had  been  done  to  soften  their 
refusal  to  admit  the  Englishmen,  nay  they  had  had  free 


2l8  THE    burgomaster's    WIFE. 

choice  to  encamp  beneath  the  protection  of  the  walls 
under  the  cannon  of  the  city. 

When  the  two  men  parted,  neither  had  convinced 
the  other,  but  each  felt  sure  of  his  comrade's  loyalty. 

As  Peter  took  leave,  he  said : 

"  Van  Hout  shall  explain  the  reasons  for  our  con- 
duct to  the  Prince,  in  a  letter  as  clear  and  convincing  as 
only  he  can  make  it,  and  his  excellency  will  finally 
approve  of  it.     Rely  upon  that." 

*'  We  will  wait,"  replied  the  commissioner,  ^^  but 
don't  forget  that  we  shall  soon  be  shut  within  these 
walls  behind  bolts  and  bars,  like  prisoners,  and  perhaps 
day  after  to-morrow  no  messenger  will  be  able  to  get  to 
him." 

"  Van  Hout  is  swift  with  his  pen." 

"  And  let  a  proclamation  be  read  aloud,  early  to- 
morrow morning,  advising  the  women,  old  men  and 
children,  in  short,  all  who  will  diminish  the  stock  of 
provisions  and  add  no  strength  to  the  defence,  to  leave 
the  city.  They  can  reach  Delft  without  danger,  for  the 
roads  leading  to  it  are  still  open." 

*'  Very  well,"  replied  Peter.  "  It's  said  that  many 
girls  and  women  have  gone  to-day  in  advance  of  the 
others." 

"  That's  right,"  cried  the  commissioner.  "  W^e  are 
driving  in  a  fragile  vessel  on  the  high  seas.  If  I  had  a 
daughter  in  the  house,  I  know  what  I  should  do.  Fare- 
well till  we  meet  again,  Meister.  How  are  matters  at 
Alfen?     The  firing  is  no  longer  heard." 

•'  Darkness  has  probably  interrupted  the  battle." 

^'  We'll  hope  for  the  best  news  to-morrow,  and  even 
if  all  the  men  outside  succumb,  we  within  the  walls  will 
not  flinch  or  yield." 


THE    BURGOMASTERS    WIFE.  219 

"  We  will  hold  out  firmly  to  the  end,"  replied  Peter 
resolutely. 

''  To  the  end,  and,  if  God  so  wills  it,  a  successful 
end." 

"  Amen,"  cried  Peter,  pressed  the  commissioner's 
hand  and  pursued  his  way  home. 

Barbara  met  him  on  the  steps  and  wanted  to  call 
Maria,  who  was  with  Henrica ;  but  he  forbade  it  and 
paced  thoughtfully  to  and  fro,  his  lips  often  quivering  as 
if  he  were  suffering  great  pain.  When,  after  some  time, 
he  heard  his  wife's  voice  in  the  dining-room,  he  con- 
trolled himself  by  a  violent  effort,  went  to  the  door,  and 
slowly  opened  it. 

"  You  are  at  home  already,  and  I  sitting  quietly 
here  spinning  !"  she  exclaimed  in  surprise. 

*'  Yes,  child.  Please  come  in  here,  I  have  something 
to  say  to  you." 

**  For  Heaven's  sake !  Peter,  tell  me  what  has  hap- 
pened. How  your  voice  sounds,  and  how  pale  you 
look !" 

"  Pm  not  ill,  but  matters  are  serious,  terribly  serious, 
Maria." 

*'  Then  it  is  true  that  the  enemy — " 

"  They  gained  great  advantage  to-day  and  yester- 
day, but  I  beg  you,  if  you  love  me,  don't  interrupt  me 
now ;  what  I  have  to  say  is  no  easy  thing,  it  is  hard  to 
force  the  lips  to  utter  it.  Where  shall  I  begin  ?  How 
shall  I  speak,  that  you  may  not  misunderstand  me  ? 
You  know,  child,  I  took  you  into  my  house  from  a 
warm  nest.  What  we  could  offer  was  very  little,  and 
you  had  doubtless  expected  to  find  more.  I  know  you 
have  not  been  happy." 

**  But  it  would  be  so  easy  for  you  to  make  me  so." 


2  20  THE    BURGOMASTERS    WIFE.  : 

"  You  are  mistaken,  Maria.  In  these  troublous  \ 
times  but  one  thing  claims  my  thoughts,  and  whatever  | 
diverts  them  from  it  is  evil.  But  just  now  one  thing  j 
paralyzes  my  courage  and  will — anxiety  about  your  fate;  \ 
for  who  knows  what  is  impending  over  us,  and  there-  i 
fore  it  must  be  said,  I  must  take  my  heart  to  the  | 
shambles  and  express  a  wish. —  A  wish  ?  Oh,  I 
merciful  Heaven,  is  there  no  other  word  for  what  I  ] 
mean ! "  j 

"  Speak,  Peter,  speak,  and  do  not  torture  me !"  cried  ^ 
Maria,  gazing  anxiously  into  her  husband's  face.  It ; 
could  be  no  small  matter,  that  induced  the  clear-headed,  j 
resolute  man  to  utter  such  confused  language.  ^ 

The  burgomaster  summoned  up  his  courage  and  ^ 
began  again :  i 

"You  are  right,  it  is  useless  to  keep  back  what  must ; 
be  said.  We  have  determined  at  the  town-hall  to-day,  ] 
to  request  the  women  and  girls  to  leave  the  city.  The  > 
road  to  Delft  is  still  open;  day  after  to-morrow  it  may] 
no  longer  be  so,  afterwards — who  can  predict  what  will  i 
happen  afterwards  ?  If  no  relief  comes  and  the  pro- 1 
visions  are  consumed,  we  shall  be  forced  to  open  the  i 
gates  to  the  enemy,  and  then,  Maria,  imagine  what  will  j 
happen  !  The  Rhine  and  the  canals  will  grow  crimson,  '< 
for  much  blood  will  flow  into  them  and  they  will  mirror  ] 
an  unequalled  conflagration.  Woe  betide  the  men,  ten-.; 
fold  woe  betide  the  women,  against  whom  the  con-  • 
queror's  fury  will  then  be  directed.  And  you,  you — : 
the  wife  of  the  man  who  has  induced  thousands  to 
desert  King  Philip,  the  wife  of  the  exile,  who  directs  i 
the  resistance  within  these  walls."  j 

At  the  last  words  Maria  had  opened  her  large  eyes  ; 
wider  and  wider,  and  now  interrupted  her  husband  with  i 


THE    BURGOMASTEJl'^u/^ftFE.      0/>  .^ S^K 

the    question:     "Do  you  wish\^jjhy  how^gb   rSf^\ 
courage  will  rise  ?"  ^^'^^  "^  ^  1^  t^  ' 

"  No,  Maria.  I  know  you  will  hold 'biiP^j^lUr^and*  y 
would  look  death  in  the  face  as  fearlessly  asT'^ur'' 
sister  did  in  Haarlem;  but  I,  I  cannot  endure  the 
thought  of  seeing  you  fall  into  the  hands  of  our 
butchers.  Fear  for  you,  terrible  fear,  will  destroy  my 
vigorous  strength  in  the  decisive  hours,  so  the  words 
must  be  uttered — " 

Maria  had  hitherto  listened  to  her  husband  quietly  ; 
she  knew  what  he  desired.  Now  she  advanced  nearer 
and  interrupted  him  by  exclaiming  firmly,  nay  impe- 
riously : 

"  No  more,  no  more,  do  you  hear !  I  will  not 
endure  another  word !" 

"  Maria  1" 

"  Silence  !  It  is  my  turn  now.  To  escape  y^^r,  you 
will  thrust  your  wife  from  the  house ;  fear^  you  say, 
would  undermine  your  strength.  But  will  longing 
strengthen  it  ?  If  you  love  me,  it  will  not  fail  to 
come — " 

"  If  I  love  you,  Maria !" 

"  Well,  well !  But  you  have  forgotten  to  consider 
how  /shall  feel  in  exile,  if  I  also  love  you.  I  am  your 
wife.  We  vowed  at  the  altar,  that  nothing  save  death 
should  part  us.  Have  you  forgotten  it  ?  Have  your 
children  become  mine  ?  Have  I  taught  them,  rejoiced 
to  call  myself  their  mother  ?     Yes,  or  no  ?" 

"  Yes,  Maria,  yes,  yes,  a  hundred  times  yes !" 

"  And  you  have  the  heart  to  throw  me  into  the  arms 
of  this  wasting  longing!  You  wish  to  prevent  me  from 
keeping  the  most  sacred  of  vows  ?  You  can  bring 
yourself  to  tear  me  from  the  children  ?     You  think  me 


222  THE    BURGOMASTERS    WIFE. 

too  shallow  and  feeble,  to  endure  suffering  and  death  for  \ 
the  sacred  cause,  which  is  mine  as  well  as  yours  !  You  j 
are  fond  of  caUing  me  your  child,  but  I  can  be  strong,  \ 
and  whatever  may  come,  will  not  weep.  You  are  the  ^ 
husband  and  have  the  right  to  command,  I  am  only  the  ; 
wife  and  shall  obey.  Shall  I  go  ?  Shall  I  stay  ?  I  ; 
await  your  answer."  j 

She  had  uttered  the  last  words  in  a  trembling  voice,  I 
but  the  burgomaster  exclaimed  with  deep  emotion :  ] 

"  Stay,  stay,  Maria !    Come,  come,  and  forgive  me  ! "  ; 

Peter  seized  her  hand,  exclaiming  again  :  i 

*'  Come,  come!"  I 

But  the  young  wife  released  herself,  retreated  a  ] 
step  and  said  beseechingly :  j 

"  Let  me  go,  Peter,  I  cannot ;  I  need  time  to  over-  \ 
come  this."  \ 

He  let  his  arms  fall  and  gazed  mournfully  into  her  \ 
face,  but  she  turned  away  and  silently  left  the  room. 

Peter  Van  der  Werff  did  not  follow  her,  but  went ! 
quietly  into  his  study  and  strove  to  reflect  upon  many  | 
things,  that  concerned  his  office,  but  his  thoughts  con-  \ 
stantly  reverted  to  Maria.  His  love  oppressed  him  as  ; 
if  it  were  a  crime,  and  he  seemed  to  himself  like  a ; 
courier,  who  gathers  flowers  by  the  way-side  and  in  this  \ 
idhng  squanders  time  and  forgets  the  object  of  his  mis- 1 
sion.  His  heart  felt  unspeakably  heavy  and  sad,  and  it  | 
seemed  almost  like  a  deliverance  when,  just  before  mid-  \ 
night,  the  bell  in  the  Tower  of  Pancratius  raised  its  evil-  i 
boding  voice.  In  danger,  he  knew,  he  would  feel  and ! 
think  of  nothing  except  what  duty  required  of  him,  so  ■ 
with  renewed  strength  he  took  his  hat  from  the  hookJ 
and  left  the  house  with  a  steady  step.  ^ 

In  the  street  he  met  Junker  Van  Duivenvoorde,  who] 


THE    burgomaster's    WIFE.  223 

summoned  him  to  the  Hohenort  Gate,  before  which  a 
body  of  EngUshmen  had  again  appeared ;  a  few  brave 
soldiers  who,  in  a  fierce,  bloody  combat,  had  held  Alfen 
and  the  Gouda  sluice  against  the  Spaniards  until  their 
powder  was  exhausted  and  necessity  compelled  them  to 
yield  or  seek  safety  in  flight.  The  burgomaster  followed 
the  officer  and  ordered  the  gates  to  be  opened  to  the 
brave  soldiers.  They  were  twenty  in  number,  among 
them  the  Netherland  Captain  Van  der  Laen,  and  a 
young  German  officer.  Peter  commanded,  that  they 
should  have  shelter  for  the  night  in  the  town-hall  and 
the  guard-house  at  the  gate.  The  next  morning  suitable 
quarters  would  be  found  for  them  in  the  houses  of  the 
citizens.  Janus  Dousa  invited  the  captain  to  lodge  with 
him,  the  German  went  to  Aquanus's  tavern.  All  were 
ordered  to  report  to  the  burgomaster  at  noon  the  next 
day,  to  be  assigned  to  quarters  and  enrolled  among  the 
volunteer  troops. 

The  ringing  of  the  alarm-bell  in  the  tower  also  dis- 
turbed the  night's  rest  of  the  ladies  in  the  Van  der  Werff 
household.  Barbara  sought  Maria,  and  neither  returned 
to  their  rooms  until  they  had  learned  the  cause  of  the 
ringing  and  soothed  Henrica. 

Maria  could  not  sleep.  Her  husband's  purpose  of 
separating  from  her  during  the  impending  danger,  had 
stirred  her  whole  soul,  wounded  her  to  the  inmost 
depths  of  her  heart.  She  felt  humiliated,  and,  if  not 
misunderstood,  at  least  unappreciated  by  the  man  for 
whose  sake  she  rejoiced,  whenever  she  perceived  a  lofty 
aspiration  or  noble  emotion  in  her  own  soul.  What 
avail  is  personal  loveliness  to  the  beautiful  wife  of  a  blind 
man ;  of  what  avail  to  Maria  was  the  rich  treasure 
buried  in  her  bosom,  if  her  husband  would  not  see  and 


224  THE    burgomaster's    WIFE.  } 

i 
bring  it  to  the  surface  !     *^  Show  him,  tell  him  how  lofty  ! 

are  your  feelings,"  urged  love ;  but  womanly  pride  ex-  j 

claimed :  "  Do  not  force  upon  him  what  he  disdains  to  ' 

seek."  i 

So  the  hours  passed,  bringing  her  neither  sleep,  • 
peace,  nor  the  desire  to  forget  the  humiliation  inflicted  \ 
upon  her.  | 

At  last  Peter  entered  the  room,  stepping  Hghtly  and  | 
cautiously,  in  order  not  to  wake  her.  She  pretended  to  ! 
be  asleep,  but  with  half-closed  eyes  could  see  him  dis-  i 
tinctly.  The  lamp-light  fell  upon  his  face,  and  the  lines  '■ 
she  had  formerly  perceived  looked  like  deep  shadows  \ 
between  his  eyes  and  mouth.  They  impressed  upon  his  ! 
features  the  stamp  of  heavy,  sorrowful  anxiety,  and  \ 
reminded  Maria  of  the  "  too  hard  "  and  "  if  I  can  only  : 
bear  it,"  he  had  murmured  in  his  sleep  the  night  before,  i 
Then  he  approached  her  bed  and  stood  there  a  long  ; 
time;  she  no  longer  saw  him,  for  she  kept  her  eyes  • 
tightly  closed,  but  the  first  loving  glance,  with  which  he  j 
gazed  down  upon  her,  had  not  escaped  her  notice.  It  j 
continued  to  beam  before  her  mental  vision,  and  she  : 
thought  she  felt  that  he  was  watching  and  praying  for  i 
her  as  if  she  were  a  child.  ] 

Sleep  had  long  since  overpowered  her  husband,  j 
while  Maria  lay  gazing  at  the  glimmering  dawn,  as  \ 
wakeful  as  if  it  were  broad  day.  For  the  sake  of  his  i 
love  she  would  forgive  much,  but  she  could  not  forget  : 
the  humihation  she  had  experienced.  "A  toy,"  she  ] 
said  to  herself,  "  a  work  of  art  which  we  enjoy,  is  placed  ; 
in  security  when  danger  threatens  the  house;  the  axe  \ 
and  the  bread,  the  sword  and  the  talisman  that  protects  j 
us,  in  short  whatever  we  cannot  dispense  with  while  we  i 
live,  we  do  not  release  from  our  hands  till  death  comes.  ! 


THE    burgomaster's    WIFE.  225 

She  was  not  necessary,  indispensable  to  him.  If  she  had 
obeyed  his  wish  and  left  him,  then — yes,  then — " 

Here  the  current  of  her  thoughts  was  checked,  for 
the  first  time  she  asked  herself  the  question  :  "  Would 
he  have  really  missed  your  helping  hand,  your  cheering 
word  ?" 

She  turned  restlessly,  and  her  heart  throbbed 
anxiously,  as  she  told  herself  that  she  had  done  little  to 
smooth  his  rugged  pathway.  The  vague  feeling,  that 
he  had  not  been  entirely  to  blame,  if  she  had  not  found 
perfect  happiness  by  his  side,  alarmed  her.  Did  not 
her  former  conduct  justify  him  in  expecting  hindrance 
rather  than  support  and  help  in  impending  days  of 
severest  peril  ? 

Filled  with  deep  longing  to  obtain  a  clear  view  of 
her  own  heart,  she  raised  herself  on  her  pillows  and  re- 
viewed her  whole  former  life. 

Her  mother  had  been  a  Catholic  in  her  youth,  and 
had  often  told  her  how  free  and  light-hearted  she  had 
felt,  when  she  confided  everything  that  can  trouble  a 
woman's  heart  to  a  silent  third  person,  and  received 
from  the  lips  of  God's  servant  the  assurance  that  she 
might  now  begin  a  new  life,  secure  of  forgiveness.  "  It 
is  harder  for  us  now,"  her  mother  said  before  her  first 
communion,  "  for  we  of  the  Reformed  religion  are  re- 
ferred to  ourselves  and  our  God,  and  must  be  wholly  at 
peace  with  ourselves  before  we  approach  the  Lord's 
table.  True,  that  is  enough,  for  if  we  frankly  and 
honestly  confess  to  the  judge  within  our  own  breasts  all 
that  troubles  our  consciences,  whether  in  thought  or 
deed,  and  sincerely  repent,  we  shall  be  sure  of  forgive- 
ness for  the  sake  of  the  Saviour's  wounds." 

Maria  now  prepared  for  this  silent  confession,  and 
15 


226  THE    burgomaster's    WIFE. 

Sternly  and  pitilessly  examined  her  conduct.  Yes,  she 
had  fixed  her  gaze  far  too  steadily  upon  herself,  asked 
much  and  given  little.  The  fault  was  recognized,  and 
now  the  amendment  should  begin. 

After  this  self-inspection,  her  heart  grew  lighter,  and 
when  she  at  last  turned  away  from  the  morning  light  to 
seek  sleep,  she  looked  forward  with  pleasure  to  the 
affectionate  greeting  she  meant  to  offer  Peter  in  the 
morning;  but  she  soon  fell  asleep  and  when  she  woke, 
her  husband  had  long  since  left  the  house. 

As  usual,  she  set  Peter's  study  in  order  before  pro- 
ceeding to  any  other  task,  and  while  doing  so,  cast  a 
friendly  glance  at  the  dead  Eva's  picture.  On  the 
writing-table  lay  the  bible,  the  only  book  not  connected 
with  his  business  affairs,  that  her  husband  ever  read. 
Barbara  sometimes  drew  comfort  and  support  from  the 
volume,  but  also  used  it  as  an  oracle,  for  when  undecided 
how  to  act  she  opened  it  and  pointed  with  her  finger  to 
a  certain  passage.  This  usually  had  a  definite  meaning 
and  she  generally,  though  not  always,  acted  as  it 
directed.  To-day  she  had  been  disobedient,  for  in  re- 
sponse to  her  question  whether  she  might  venture  to 
send  a  bag  of  all  sorts  of  dainties  to  her  son,  a  Beggar 
of  the  Sea,  in  spite  of  the  Spaniards  encircling  the  city, 
she  had  received  the  words  of  Jeremiah  :  "  Their  tents 
and  their  flocks  shall  they  take  away :  they  shall  take 
to  themselves  their  curtains  and  all  their  vessels  and 
their  camels,"  and  yet  the  bag  had  been  entrusted  early 
that  morning  to  a  widow,  who  intended  to  make  her 
escape  to  Delft  with  her  young  daughter,  according  to 
the  request  of  the  magistrates.  The  gift  might  perhaps 
reach  Rotterdam ;  a  mother  always  hopes  for  a  miracle 
in  behalf  of  her  child. 


THE    BURGOMASTERS    WIFE.  227 

Before  Maria  restored  the  bible  to  its  old  place,  she 
opened  it  at  the  thirteenth  chapter  of  the  first  Epistle  of 
Paul  to  the  Corinthians,  which  speaks  of  love,  and  was 
specially  dear  to  her.  There  were  the  words  :  "  Charity 
suffereth  long  and  is  kind,  charity  is  not  easily  pro- 
voked ;"  and  "  Charity  beareth  all  things,  believeth  all 
things,  hopeth  all  things,  endureth  all  things." 

To  be  kind  and  patient,  to  hope  and  endure  all 
things,  was  the  duty  love  imposed  upon  her. 

When  she  had  closed  the  bible  and  was  preparing 
to  go  to  Henrica,  Barbara  ushered  Janus  Dousa  into 
the  room.  The  young  nobleman  to-day  wore  armor 
and  gorget,  and  looked  far  more  like  a  soldier  than  a 
scientist  or  poet.  He  had  sought  Peter  in  vain  at  the 
town-hall,  and  hoped  to  find  him  at  home.  One  of  the 
messengers  sent  to  the  Prince  had  returned  from  Dort- 
recht  with  a  letter,  which  conferred  on  Dousa  the  office 
made  vacant  by  Allertssohn's  death.  He  was  to  com- 
mand not  only  the  city-guard,  but  all  the  armed  force.  • 
He  had  accepted  the  appointment  with  cheerful  alacrity, 
and  requested  Maria  to  inform  her  husband. 

**  Accept  my  congratulations,"  said  the  burgomas- 
ter's wife.  "  But  what  will  now  become  of  your  motto: 
*  Ante  omnia  Musae  ?^  " 

"  I  shall  change  the  words  a  little  and  say :  Oinnia 
ante  MiisasP 

"  Do  you  understand  that  jargon,  child  ?"  asked 
Barbara. 

"  A  passport  will  be  given  the  Muses,"  replied  Maria 
gaily. 

Janus  was  pleased  with  the  ready  repartee  and  ex- 
claimed :  "  How  bright  and  happy  you  look !  Faces 
free  from  care  are  rare  birds  in  these  days." 

IS* 


228  THE    burgomaster's    WIFE. 

Maria  blushed,  for  she  did  not  know  how  to  inter- 
pret the  words  of  the  nobleman,  who  understood  how 
to  reprove  with  subtle  mockery,  and  answered  naively : 
*'  Don't  think  me  frivolous,  Junker.  I  know  the  serious- 
ness of  the  times,  but  I  have  just  finished  a  silent  con- 
fession and  discovered  many  bad  traits  in  my  character, 
but  also  the  desire  to  replace  them  with  more  praise- 
worthy ones." 

"  There,  there,"  repned  Janus.  "  I  knew  long  ago 
that  you  had  formed  a  friendship  in  the  Delft  school 
with  my  old  sage.  *  Know  thyself,'  was  the  Greek's  prin- 
cipal lesson,  and  you  wisely  obey  it.  Every  silent  con- 
fession, every  desire  for  inward  purification,  must  begin 
with  the  purpose  of  knowing  ourselves  and,  if  in  so 
doing  we  unexpectedly  encounter  things  which  tend  to 
make  our  beloved  selves  uncomely,  and  have  the 
courage  to  find  them  just  as  hideous  in  ourselves  as  in 
others —  " 

"Abhorrence  will  come,  and  we  shall  have  taken 
the  first  step  towards  improvement." 

"  No,  dear  lady,  we  shall  then  stand  on  one  of 
the  higher  steps.  After  hours  of  long,  deep  thought, 
Socrates  perceived — do  you  know  what?" 

"  That  he  knew  nothing  at  all.  I  shall  arrive  at 
this  perception  more  speedily." 

"  And  the  Christian  learns  it  at  school,"  said  Bar- 
bara, to  join  in  the  conversation.  "  All  knowledge  is 
botchwork." 

"  And  we  are  all  sinners,"  added  Janus.  *'  That's 
easily  said,  dear  madam,  and  easily  understood,  when 
others  are  concerned.  *  He  is  a  sinner '  is  quickly 
uttered,  but  '/am  a  sinner'  escapes  the  lips  with  more 
difficulty,  and  whoever  does  exclaim  it  with  sorrow,  in 


THE    burgomaster's    WIFE.  229 

the  stillness  of  his  own  quiet  room,  mingles  the  white 
feathers  of  angels'  wings  with  the  black  pinions  of  the 
devil.  Pardon  me  !  In  these  times  everything  thought 
and  said  is  transformed  into  solemn  earnest.  Mars  is 
here,  and  the  cheerful  Muses  are  silent.  Remember 
me  to  your  husband,  and  tell  him,  that  Captain  Allerts- 
sohn's  body  has  been  brought  in  and  to-morrow  is 
appointed  for  the  funeral. 

The  nobleman  took  his  leave,  and  Maria,  after  visit- 
ing her  patient' and  finding  her  well  and  bright,  sent 
Adrian  and  Bessie  into  the  garden  outside  the  city-wall 
to  gather  flowers  and  foliage,  which  she  intended  to 
help  them  weave  into  wreaths  for  the  coffin  of  the  brave 
soldier.     She  herself  went  to  the  captain's  widow. 


CHAPTER  XXII. 

The  burgomaster's  wife  returned  home  just  before 
dinner,  and  found  a  motley  throng  of  bearded  warriors 
assembled  in  front  of  the  house,  They  were  trying  to 
make  themselves  intelligible  in  the  EngHsh  language  to 
some  of  the  constables,  and  when  the  latter  respectfully 
saluted  Maria,  raised  their  hands  to  their  morions  also. 

She  pleasantly  returned  the  greeting  and  passed  into 
the  entry,  where  the  full  light  of  noon  streamed  in 
through  the  open  door. 

Peter  had  assigned  quarters  to  the  English  soldiers 
outside,  and  after  a  consultation  with  the  new  com- 
mandant, Jan  Van  der  Does,  gave  them  officers.  They 
were  probably  waiting  for  their  comrades,  for  when  the 
young  wife  had  ascended  the  first  steps  of  the  staircase 


230  THE    burgomaster's    WIFE. 

and  looked  upward,  she  found  the  top  of  the  narrow 
flight  barred  by  the  tall  figure  of  a  soldier.  The  latter 
had  his  back  towards  her  and  was  showing  Bessie 
his  dark  velvet  cap,  surrounded  by  rectangular  teeth, 
above  which  floated  a  beautiful  light-blue  ostrich-plume. 
The  child  seemed  to  have  formed  a  close  friendship  with 
the  soldier,  for,  although  the  latter  was  refusing  her 
something,  the  little  girl  laughed  gaily. 

Maria  paused  irresolutely  a  moment ;  but  when  the 
child  snatched  the  gay  cap  and  put  it  on  her  own 
curls,  she  thought  she  must  check  her  and  exclaimed 
warningly :  ''  AVhy,  Bessie,  that  is  no  plaything  for 
children." 

The  soldier  turned,  stood  still  a  moment  in  aston- 
ishment, raised  his  hand  to  his  forehead,  and  then,  with 
a  few  hurried  bounds,  sprang  down  the  stairs  and 
rushed  up  to  the  burgomaster's  wife.  Maria  had  started 
back  in  surprise ;  but  he  gave  her  no  time  to  think,  for 
stretching  out  both  hands  he  exclaimed  in  an  eager, 
joyous  tone,  with  sparkling  eyes:  "Maria!  Jungfrau 
Maria!     You  here!     This  is  what  I  call  a  lucky  dayl" 

The  young  wife  had  instandy  recognized  the  soldier 
and  wiUingly  laid  her  right  han^i  in  his,  though  not 
without  a  shade  of  embarrassment: 

The  officer's  clear,  blue  eyes  sought  hers,  but  she 
fixed  her  gaze  on  the  floor,  saying :  "  I  am  no  longer 
what  I  was,  the  young  girl  has  become  a  housewife." 

"  A  housewife ! "  he  exclaimed.  "  How  dignified 
that  sounds  !  And  yet !  Yet !  You  are  still  Jungfrau 
Maria !  You  haven't  changed  a  hair.  That's  just  the 
way  you  bent  your  head  at  the  wedding  in  Delft,  the 
way  you  raised  your  hands,  lowered  your  ey-es — you 
blushed  too,  just  as  prettily."  r 


THE    BURGOMASTERS    WIFE.  23 1 

There  was  a  rare  melody  in  the  voice  which  uttered 
these  words  with  joyous,  almost  childlike  freedom, 
which  pleased  Maria  no  less  than  the  officer's  familiar 
manner  annoyed  her.  With  a  hasty  movement  she 
raised  her  head,  looked  steadily  into  the  young  man's 
handsome  face  and  said  with  dignity : 

"  You  see  only  the  exterior,  Junker  von  Dornburg  ; 
three  years  have  made  many  changes  within." 

"  Junker  von  Dornburg,"  he  repeated,  shaking  his 
waving  locks.  "  I  was  Junker  Georg  in  Delft.  Very 
different  things  have  happened  to  us,  dear  lady,  very 
different  things.  You  see  I  have  grown  a  tolerable, 
though  not  huge  moustache,  am  stouter,  and  the  sun  has 
bronzed  my  pink  and  white  boyish  face — in  short :  my 
outer  man  has  changed  for  the  worse,  but  within  I  am 
just  the  same  as  I  was  three  years  ago." 

Maria  felt  the  blood  again  mounting  into  her  cheeks, 
but  she  did  not  wish  to  blush  and  answered  hastily : 

"Standing  still  is  retrograding,  so  you  have  lost 
three  beautiful  years,  Herr  von  Dornburg." 

The  officer  looked  at  Maria  in  perplexity,  and  then 
said  more  gravely  than  before  : 

*^  Your  jest  is  more  opportune,  than  you  probably 
suppose ;  I  had  hoped  to  find  you  again  in  Delft,  but 
powder  was  short  in  Alfen,  so  the  Spaniard  will  prob- 
ably reach  your  native  city  sooner  than  we.  Now  a 
kind  fate  brings  me  to  you  here ;  but  let  me  be  honest — 
What  I  hope  and  desire  stands  clearly  before  my  eyes, 
echoes  in  my  soul,  and  when  I  thought  of  our  meeting, 
I  dreamed  you  would  lay  both  hands  in  mine  and,- 
instead  of  greeting  me  with  witty  words,  ask  the  old 
companion  of  happy  hours,  your  brother  Leonhard's 
best  friend  :     '  Do  you  still  remember  our  dead  ?'     And 


232  THE    BURGOMASTER  S    WIFE. 

when  I  had  told  you  :  ^  Yes,  yes,  yes,  I  have  never  for- 
gotten hhn,'  then  I  thought  the  mild  lustre  of  your  eyes 
— Oh,  oh,  how  I  thank  you  !  The  dear  orbs  are  floating 
in  a  mist  of  tears.  You  are  not  so  wholly  changed  as 
you  supposed,  Frau  Maria,  and  if  I  loyally  remember 
the  past,  will  you  blame  me  for  it  ?" 

"  Certainly  not,"  she  answered  cordially.  "  And 
now  that  you  speak  to  me  so,  I  will  with  pleasure  again 
call  you  Junker  Georg,  and  as  Leonhard's  friend  and 
mine,  invite  you  to  our  house." 

"  That  will  be  delightful,"  he  cried  cordially.  "  I 
have  so  much  to  ask  you  and,  as  for  myself — alas,  I 
wish  I  had  less  to  tell." 

"  Have  you  seen  my  husband  ?  "  asked  Maria. 

"  I  know  nobody  in  Leyden,"  he  replied,  "  except 
my  learned,  hospitable  host,  and  the  doge  of  this  minia- 
ture Venice,  so  rich  in  water  and  bridges." 

Georg  pointed  up  the  stair-case.  Maria  blushed 
again  as  she  said : 

*'  Burgomaster  Van  der  Werff  is  my  husband." 

The  nobleman  was  silent  for  a  short  time,  then  he 
said  quickly : 

^'  He   received  me  kindly.     And  the  pretty  elf  up 
yonder  ?  " 

"  His  child  by  his  first  marriage,  but  now  mine  also. 
How  do  you  happen  to  call  her  the  elf?" 

"  Because  she  looks  as  if  she  had  been  born  among 
white  flowers  in  the  moonlight,  and  because  the  after- 
glow of  the  sunrise,  from  which  the  elves  flee,  crimsoned 
her  cheeks  when  I  caught  her." 

"  She  has  already  received  the  name  once,"  said 
Maria.     ''  May  I  take  you  to  my  husband  ?  " 

''  Not  now,  Frau  Van  der  Werff,  for  I  must  attend 


THE    BURGOMASTERS    WIFE.  233 

to  my  men  outside,  but  to-morrow,  if  you  will  allow 
me." 

Maria  found  the  dishes  smoking  on  the  dining-table. 
Her  family  had  waited  for  her,  and,  heated  by  the  rapid 
walk  at  noon,  excited  by  her  unexpected  meeting  with 
the  young  German,  she  opened  the  door  of  the  study 
and  called  to  her  husband  : 

"  Excuse  me!     I  was  detained.     It  is  very  late." 

"  We  were  very  willing  to  wait,"  he  answered  kindly, 
approaching  her.  Then  all  she  had  resolved  to  do 
returned  to  her  memory  and,  for  the  first  time  since  her 
marriage,  she  raised  her  husband's  hand  to  her  lips. 
He  smilingly  withdrew  it,  kissed  her  on  the  forehead, 
and  said : 

"  It  is  delightful  to  have  you  here." 

"  Isn't  it  ? "  she  asked,  gently  shaking  her  finger  at 
him. 

"  But  we  are  all  here  now,  and  dinner  is  waiting." 

"  Come  then,"  she  answered  gaily.  "  Do  you  know 
whom  I  met  on  the  stairs  ?  " 

**  English  soldiers." 

"  Of  course,  but  among  them  Junker  von  Dornburg." 

"  He  called  on  me.  A  handsome  fellow,  whose 
gayety  is  very  attractive,  a  German  from  the  evangelical 
countries." 

"  Leonhard's  best  friend.  Don't  you  know  ?  Surely 
I've  told  you  about  him.  Our  guest  at  Jacoba's 
wedding." 

"  Oh  !  yes.  Junker  Georg.  He  tamed  the  chestnut 
horse  for  the  Prince's  equerry." 

"  That  was  a  daring  act,"  said  Maria,  drawing  a  long 
breath. 

"The  chestnut  is  still  an  excellent  horse,"   replied 


234  THE    burgomaster's    WIFE. 

Peter.  *'  Leonhard  thought  the  Junker,  with  his  gifts 
and  talents,  would  lift  the  world  out  of  its  grooves ;  I 
remember  it  well,  and  now  the  poor  fellow  must  remain 
quietly  here  and  be  fed  by  us.  How  did  he  happen  to 
join  the  Enghshmen  and  take  part  in  the  war  ?" 

"  I  don't  know ;  he  only  told  me  that  he  had  had 
many  experiences." 

"  I  can  easily  believe  it.  He  is  living  at  the  tavern; 
but  perhaps  we  can  find  a  room  for  him  in  the  side 
wing,  looking  out  upon  the  court-yard." 

*'  No,  Peter,"  cried  the  young  wife  eagerly.  '^  There 
is  no  room  in  order  there." 

"  That  can  be  arranged  later.  At  any  rate  we'll 
invite  him  to  dinner  to-morrow,  he  may  have  something 
to  tell  us.  There  is  good  marrow  in  the  young  man. 
He  begged  me  not  to  let  him  remain  idle,  but  make  him 
of  use  in  the  service.  Jan  Van  der  Does  has  already 
put  him  in  the  right  place,  the  new  commandant  looks 
into  people's  hearts."  j 

Barbara  mingled  in  the  conversation,  Peter,  though  \ 
it  was  a  week-day,  ordered  a  jug  of  wine  to  be  brought  i 
instead  of  the  beer,  and  an  event  that  had  not  occurred  i 
for  weeks  happened  :  the  master  of  the  house  sat  at  : 
least  fifteen  minutes  with  his  family  after  the  food  had  : 
been  removed,  and  told  them  of  the  rapid  advance  of  ; 
the  Spaniards,  the  sad  fate  of  the  fugitive  Englishmen,  j 
who  had  been  disarmed  and  led  away  in  sections,  the  j 
brave  defence  the  Britons,  to  whose  corps  Georg  be-  | 
longed,  had  made  at  Alfen,  and  of  another  hot  combat  \ 
in  which  Don  Gay  tan,  the  right-hand  and  best  officer  of  j 
Valdez,  was  said  to  have  fallen.  Messengers  still  went  ; 
and  came  on  the  roads  leading  to  Delft,  but  to-morrow  i 
these  also  would  probably  be  blocked  by  the  enemy.  : 


THE   burgomaster's    WIFE.  235 

He  always  addressed  everything  he  said  to  Maria, 
unless  Barbara  expressly  questioned  him,  and  when  he 
at  last  rose  from  the  table,  ordered  a  good  roast  to  be 
prepared  the  next  day  for  the  guest  he  intended  to 
invite.  Scarcely  had  the  door  of  his  room  closed  be- 
hind him,  when  little  Bessie  ran  up  to  Maria,  threw  her 
arms  around  her  and  asked  : 

"  Mother,  isn't  Junker  Georg  the  tall  captain  with 
the  blue  feather,  who  ran  down-stairs  so  fast  to  meet 
you?" 

"Yes,  child." 

"  And  he's  coming  to  dinner  to-morrow !  He's 
coming,  Adrian." 

The  child  clapped  her  hands  in  delight  and  then  ran 
to  Barbara  to  exclaim  once  more  : 

*^  Aunt  Barbel,  did  you  hear  ?     He's  coming ! " 

"  With  the  blue  feather,"  replied  the  widow. 

*'  Arid  he  has  curls,  curls  as  long  as  Assendelft's 
little  Clara.  May  I  go  with  you  to  see  Cousin  Henrica?  '* 

"Afterwards,  perhaps,"  replied  Maria.  "Go  now, 
children,  get  the  flowers  and  separate  them  carefully 
from  the  leaves.  Trautchen  will  bring  some  hoops  and 
strings,  and  then  we'll  bind  the  wreaths." 

Junker  Georg's  remark,  that  this  was  a  lucky  day, 
seemed  to  be  verified;  for  the  young  wife  found  Henrica 
bright  and  free  from  pain.  With  the  doctor's  per- 
mission, she  had  walked  up  and  down  her  room  several 
times,  sat  a  longer  time  at  the  open  window,  relished 
her  chicken,  and  when  Maria  entered,  was  seated  in  the 
softly-cushioned  arm-chair,  rejoicing  in  the  conscious- 
ness of  increasing  strength. 

Maria  was  delighted  at  her  improved  appearance, 
and  told  her  how  well  she  looked  that  day. 


236  THE    burgomaster's    WIFE. 

"  I  can  return  the  compliment/'  replied  Henrica.  ; 
**  You  look  very  happy.    What  has  happened  to  ydR  ?  "  \ 

"  To  me  ?  Oh !  my  husband  was  more  cheerful  i 
than  usual,  and  there  was  a  great  deal  to  tell  at  dinner.  'I 
I've  only  come  to  enquire  for  your  health.  I  will  see  i 
you  later.  Now  I  must  go  with  the  children  to  a  sor-l 
rowful  task."  j 

"  With  the  children  ?  What  have  the  little  elf  and  1 
Signor  Salvatore  to  do  with  sorrow  ?  "  j 

"  Captain  Allertssohn  will  be  buried  to-morrow,  and  j 
we  are  going  to  make  some  wreaths  for  the  coffin."         \ 

"  Make  wreaths  !"  cried  Henrica,  "  I  can  teach  you  j 
that!  There,  Trautchen,  take  the  plate  and  call  the:| 
little  ones."  j 

The  servant  went  away,  but  Maria  said  anxiously :    j 

"  You  will  exert  yourself  too  much  again,  Henrica.'*  1 

"  I  ?  I  shall  be  singing  again  to-morrow.  My  j 
preserver's  potion  does  wonders,  I  assure  you.  Have! 
you  flowers  and  oak -leaves  enough  ?"  j 

"  I  should  think  so."  i 

At  the  last  words  the  door  opened  and  Bessie  | 
cautiously  entered  the  room,  walking  on  tiptoe  as  she  : 
had  been  told,  went  up  to  Henrica,  received  a  kiss  from  j 
her,  and  then  asked  eagerly : 

"  Cousin  Henrica,  do  you  know  ?  Junker  Georg,  \ 
with  the  blue  feather,  is  coming  again  to-morrow  and  ^ 
will  dine  with  us." 

"  Junker  Georg  ?"  asked  the  young  lady.  j 

Maria  interrupted  the  child's  reply,  and  answered  in  \ 
an  embarrassed  tone: 

"  Herr  von  Domburg,  an  officer  who  came  to  the  \ 
city  with  the  Englishmen,  of  whom  I  spoke  to  you — a  ; 
German — an  old  acquaintance.      Go  and  arrange  the; 


THE    burgomaster's   WIFE.  237 

flowers  with  Adrian,  Bessie,  then  I'll  come  and  help 
you." 

"  Here,  with  Cousin  Henrica,"  pleaded  the  child. 

"  Yes,  little  elf,  here ;  and  we'll  both  make  the 
loveliest  wreath  you  ever  saw." 

The  child  ran  out,  and  this  time,  in  her  delight^ 
forgot  to  shut  the  door  gently. 

The  young  wife  gazed  out  of  the  window.  Henrica 
watched  her  silently  for  a  time  and  then  exclaimed : 

"  One  word,  Frau  Maria.  What  is  going  on  in  the 
court-yard  ?  Nothing  ?  And  what  has  become  of  the 
happy  light  in  your  eyes  ?  Your  house  isn't  swarming 
with  guests;  why  did  you  wait  for  Bessie  to  tell  me 
about  Junker  Georg,  the  German,  the  old  acquaint- 
ance ?" 

"  Let  that  subject  drop,  Henrica." 

"  No,  no !  Do  you  know  what  I  think  ?  The 
storm  of  war  has  blown  to  your  house  the  young  mad- 
cap, with  whom  you  spent  such  happy  hours  at  your 
sister's  wedding.  Am  I  right  or  wrong  ?  You  needn't 
blush  so  deeply." 

"  It  is  he,"  replied  Maria  gravely.  "  But  if  you  love 
me,  forget  what  I  told  you  about  him,  or  deny  yourself 
the  idle  amusement  of  alluding  to  it,  for  if  you  should 
still  do  so,  it  would  offend  me." 

"  Why  should  I !     You  are  the  wife  of  another." 

"  Of  another  whom  I  honor  and  love,  who  trusts 
me  and  himself  invited  the  Junker  to  his  house.  I  have 
liked  the  young  man,  admired  his  talents,  been  anxious 
when  he  trifled  with  his  life  as  if  it  were  a  paltry  leaf, 
which  is  flung  into  the  river." 

"  And  now  that  you  have  seen  him  again,  Maria  ?'* 


238  THE    burgomaster's    WIFE. 

"  Now  I  know,  what  my  duty  is.      Do  yoti  see,  that! 

my  peace  here  is  not  disturbed  by  idle  gossip."  j 

"  Certainly  not,  Maria ;  yet  I  am  still  curious  abouti 

this  Chevalier  Georg  and  his  singing.     Unfortunately  i 

we  shan't  be  long  together.     I  want  to  go  home."  i 

"  The  doctor  will  not  allow  you  to  travel  yet."  : 

^'  No   matter.     I   shall   go  as   soon  as   I  feel  well  J 

enough.      My  father  is  refused  admittance,  but  yours 

husband  can  do  much,  and  I  must  speak  with  him."       ^ 

"  Will  you  receive  him  to-morrow  ?"  \ 

"  The   sooner  the   better,  for  he  is  your  husband] 

and,  I  repeat,  the  ground  is  burning  under  my  feet."       \ 

"  Oh  !"  exclaimed  Maria.  \ 

"  That  sounds  very  sad,"  cried  Henrica.     "  Do  youi 

want  to  hear,  that  I  shall  find  it  hard  to  leave  you  ?     I 

shouldn't  go  yet;  but  my  sister  Anna,  she  is  now  a; 

widow —     Thank  God,  I  should  like  to  say,  but  she; 

is  suffering  want  and  utterly  deserted.     I  must  speak  to  \ 

my  father  about  her,  and  go  forth  from  the  quiet  haven ; 

into  the  storm  once  more." 

"  My  husband  will  come  to  you,"  said  Maria.  i 

"  That's  right,  that's  right !  Come  in,  children !  j 
Put  the  flowers  on  the  table  yonder.  You,  Httle  elf,  sit  1 
down  on  the  stool  and  you,  Salvatore,  shall  give  me  the ; 
flowers.  What  does  this  mean  ?  I  really  believe  the  \ 
scamp  has  been  putting  perfumed  oil  on  his  curly  head. : 
In  honor  of  me,  Salvatore  ?  Thank  you  ! —  We  shall  i 
need  the  hoops  later.  First  we'll  make  bouquets,  and  i 
then  bind  them  with  the  leaves  to  the  wood.  Sing  me  j 
a  song  while  we  are  working,  Maria.  The  first  one!  1 1 
can  bear  it  to-day."  \ 


THE    burgomaster's    WIFE.  239 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 

Half  Leyden  had  followed  the  brave  captain's  coffin, 
and  among  the  other  soldiers,  who  rendered  the  last 
honors  to  the  departed,  was  Georg  von  Dornburg. 
After  the  funeral,  the  musician  Wilhelm  led  the  son  of 
the  kind  comrade,  whom  so  many  mourned,  to  his  house. 
Van  der  Werff  found  many  things  to  be  done  after  the 
burial,  but  reserved  the  noon  hour ;  for  he  expected  the 
German  to  dine. 

The  burgomaster,  as  usual,  sat  at  the  head  of  the 
table;  the  Junker  had  taken  his  place  between  him  and 
Maria,  opposite  to  Barbara  and  the  children. 

The  widow  never  wearied  of  gazing  at  the  young 
man's  fresh,  bright  face,  for  although  her  son  could 
not  compare  with  him  in  beauty,  there  was  an  honest 
expression  in  the  Junker's  eyes,  which  reminded  her  of 
her  Wilhelm. 

Many  a  question  and  answer  had  already  been  ex- 
changed between  those  assembled  round  the  board, 
many  a  pleasant  memory  recalled,  when  Peter,  after  the 
dishes  had  been  removed  and  a  new  jug  with  better 
wine  placed  on  the  table,  filled  the  young  nobleman's 
glass  again,  and  raised  his  own. 

"  Let  us  drink  this  bumper,"  he  cried,  gazing  at 
Georg  with  sincere  pleasure  in  his  eyes,  "  let  us  drink  to 
the  victory  of  the  good  cause,  for  which  you  too  volun- 
tarily draw  your  sword.  Thanks  for  the  vigorous 
pledge.  Drinking  is  also  an  art,  and  the  Germans  are 
masters  of  it." 


240  THE    burgomaster's    WIFE.  % 

"  We  learn  it  in  various  places,  and  not  worst  at  the] 
University  of  Jena."  I 

*'  All  honor  to  the  doctors  and  professors,  who  bring  i 
their  pupils  up  to  the  standard  of  my  dead  brother-in-] 
law,  and  judging  from  this  sample  drink,  you  also."        j 

"  Leonhard  was  my  teacher  in  the  ars  bibendi,  How^ 
long  ago  it  is ! "  \ 

**  Youth  is  not  usually  content,"  replied  Peter,  "but] 
when  the  point  in  question  concerns  years,  readily  calls  i 
*  much,'  what  seems  to  older  people  *  little.'  True,  many: 
experiences  may  have  been  crowded  into  the  last  few 
years  of  your  life.  I  can  still  spare  an  hour,  and  as  wei 
are  all  sitting  so  cosily  together  here,  you  can  tell  us,  = 
unless  you  wish  to  keep  silence  on  the  subject,  how  you  J 
chanced  to  leave  your  distant  home  for  Holland,  andj 
your  German  and  Latin  books  to  enlist  under  thai 
English  standard."  \ 

"  Yes,"  added  Maria,  without  any  trace  of  embar-  \ 
rassment.  "  You  still  owe  me  the  story.  Give  thanks, ; 
children,  and  then  go."  : 

Adrian  gazed  beseechingly  first  at  his  mother  and : 
then  at  his  father,  and  as  neither  forbade  him  to  stay,  ■ 
moved  his  chair  close  to  his  sister,  and  both  leaned  their ; 
heads  together  and  listened  with  wide  open  eyes,  while! 
the  Junker  first  quietly,  then  with  increasing  vivacity,] 
related  the  following  story  :  ; 

"  You  know  that  I  am  a  native  of  Thuringia,  a ; 
mountainous  country  in  the  heart  of  Germany.  Our" 
castle  is  situated  in  a  pleasant  valley,  through  which  a  I 
clear  river  flows  in  countless  windings.  AVooded  moun-  '■ 
tains,  not  so  high  as  the  giants  in  Switzerland,  yet  by  no; 
means  contemptible,  border  the  narrow  boundaries  of  the  i 
valley.  At  their  feet  lie  fields  and  meadows,  at  a  greater  • 


THE    burgomaster's    WIFE.  24 1 

height  rise  pine  forests,  which,  Hke  the  huntsman,  wear 
green  robes  at  all  seasons  of  the  year.  In  winter,  it  is 
true,  the  snow  cover  them  with  a  gUmmering  white 
sheet.  When  spring  comes,  the  pines  put  forth  new 
shoots,  as  fresh  and  full  of  sap  as  the  budding  foliage  of 
your  oaks  and  beeches,  and  in  the  meadows  by  the  river 
it  begins  to  snow  in  the  warm  breezes,  for  then  one  fruit- 
tree  blooms  beside  another,  and  when  the  wind  rises,  the 
delicate  white  petals  flutter  through  the  air  and  fall 
among  the  bright  blossoms  in  the  grass,  and  on  the  clear 
surface  of  the  river.  There  are  also  numerous  barren 
cliffs  on  the  higher  portions  of  the  mountains,  and  where 
they  towered  in  the  most  rugged,  inaccessible  ridges,  our 
ancestors  built  their  fastnesses,  to  secure  themselves  from 
the  attacks  of  their  enemies.  Our  castle  stands  on  a 
mountain-ridge  in  the  midst  of  the  valley  of  the  Saale. 
There  I  was  born,  there  I  sported  through  the  years  of 
my  boyhood,  learned  to  read  and  guide  the  pen.  There 
was  plenty  of  hunting  in  the  forests,  we  had  spirited 
horses  in  the  stable,  and,  wild  lad  that  I  was,  I  rarely 
went  voluntarily  into  the  school-room,  the  grey-haired 
teacher,  Lorenz,  had  to  catch  me,  if  he  wanted  to  get 
possession  of  me.  My  sisters  and  Hans,  our  youngest 
child,  the  boy  was  only  three  years  younger  than  I,  kept 
quiet — I  had  an  older  brother  too,  yet  did  not  have  him. 
When  his  beard  was  first  beginning  to  grow,  he  was 
given  by  our  gracious  Duke  to  Chevalier  von  Brand  as 
his  esquire,  and  sent  to  Spain,  to  buy  Andalusian  horses. 
John  Frederick's  father  had  learned  their  value  in 
Madrid  after  the  batde  of  Miihlburg.  Louis  was  a 
merry  fellow  when  he  went  away,  and  knew  how  to 
tame  the  wildest  stalhon.  It  was  hard  for  our  parents 
to  believe  him  dead,  but  years  elapsed,  and  as  neither 


242  THE    burgomaster's    WIFE. 

he  nor  Chevalier  von  Brand  appeared,  we  were  obliged 
to  give  him  up  for  lost.  My  mother  alone  could  not  do 
this,  and  constantly  expected  his  return.  My  father 
called  me  the  future  heir  and  lord  of  the  castle.  When 
I  had  passed  beyond  boyhood  and  understood  Cicero 
tolerably  well,  I  was  sent  to  the  University  of  Jena  to 
study  law,  as  my  uncle,  the  chancellor,  wished  me  to  be- 
come a  counsellor  of  state. 

^'  Oh  Jena,  beloved  Jena  !  There  are  blissful  days 
in  May  and  June,  when  only  light  clouds  float  in  the 
sky,  and  all  the  leaves  and  flowers  are  so  fresh  and 
green,  that  one  would  think — they  probably  think  so 
themselves — that  they  could  never  fade  and  wither; 
such  days  in  human  existence  are  the  period  of  joyous 
German  student  life.  You  can  believe  it.  Leonhard 
has  told  you  enough  of  Jena.  He  understood  how  to 
unite  work  and  pleasure;  I,  on  the  contrary,  learned  little 
on  the  wooden  benches,  for  I  rarely  occupied  them,  and 
the  dust  of  books  certainly  didn't  spoil  my  lungs.  But 
I  read  Ariosto  again  and  again,  devoted  myself  to 
singing,  and  when  a  storm  of  feeling  seethed  within  my 
breast,  composed  many  songs  for  my  own  pleasure. 
We  learned  to  wield  the  sword  too  in  Jena,  and  I  would 
gladly  have  crossed  blades  with  the  sturdy  fencing- 
master  Allertssohn,  of  whom  you  have  just  told  me. 
Leonhard  was  older  than  I,  and  when  he  graduated 
with  honor,  I  was  still  very  weak  in  the  pandects.  But 
we  were  always  one  in  heart  and  soul,  so  I  went  to 
Holland  with  him  to  attend  his  wedding.  Ah,  those 
were  days !  The  theologians  in  Jena  have  actively  dis- 
puted about  the  part  of  the  earth,  in  which  the  little 
garden  of  Paradise  should  be  sought.  I  considered 
them  all  fools,  and  thought :    '  There  is  only  one  Eden, 


THE    BURGOMASTERS    WIFE.  243 

and  that  lies  in  Holland,  and  the  fairest  roses  the  dew 
waked  on  the  first  sunny  morning,  bloom  in  Delft !  *  " 

At  these  words  Georg  shook  back  his  waving 
locks  and  hesitated  in  great  embarrassment,  but  as  no 
one  interrupted  him  and  he  saw  Barbara's  eager  face 
and  the  children's  glowing  cheeks,  quietly  continued : 

*'  So  I  came  home,  and  was  to  learn  for  the  first 
time,  that  in  life  also  beautiful  sunny  days  often  end  with 
storms.  I  found  my  father  ill,  and  a  few  days  after  my 
return  he  closed  his  eyes  in  death.  I  had  never  seen 
any  human  being  die,  and  the  first,  the  very  first,  was 
he,  my  father." 

Georg  paused,  and  deeply  moved,  passed  his  hand 
over  his  eyes. 

^'  Your  father ! "  cried  Barbara,  in  a  tone  of  cordial 
sympathy,  breaking  the  silence.  "  If  we  can  judge  the 
tree  by  the  apple,  he  was  surely  a  splendid  man." 

The  Junker  again  raised  his  head,  exclaiming  with 
sparkling  eyes : 

*'  Unite  every  good  and  noble  quality,  and  embody 
them  in  the  form  of  a  tall,  handsome  man,  then  you  will 
have  the  image  of  my  father ;  —  and  I  might  tell  you  of 
my  mother — " 

"  Is  she  still  alive  ?  "  asked  Peter. 

^'  God  grant  it ! "  exclaimed  the  young  man.  "  I 
have  heard  nothing  from  my  family  for  two  months. 
That  is  hard.  Pleasures  smile  along  every  path,  and  I 
like  my  profession  of  soldier,  but  it  often  grieves  me 
sorely  to  hear  so  little  from  home.  Oh !  if  one  were 
only  a  bird,  a  sunbeam,  or  a  shooting-star,  one  might,  if 
only  for  the  twinkling  of  an  eye,  learn  how  matters  go 
at  home  and  fill  the  soul  with  fresh  gratitude,  or,  if  it 
must  be  —  but  I  will  not  think  of  that.     In  the  valley  of 


244  THE    BURGOMASTER  S    WIFE. 

the  Saale,  the  trees  are  blossoming  and  a  thousand 
flowers  deck  all  the  meadows,  just  as  they  do  here,  and 
did  there  two  years  ago,  when  I  left  home  for  the  second 
time. 

"  After  my  father's  death  I  was  the  heir,  but  neither 
hunting  nor  riding  to  court,  neither  singing  nor  the 
clinking  of  beakers  could  please  me.  I  went  about 
like  a  sleep-walker,  and  it  seemed  as  if  I  had  no 
right  to  live  without  my  father.  Then  —  it  is  now 
just  two  years  ago — a  messenger  brought  from  Weimar 
a  letter  which  had  come  from  Italy  with  several  others^ 
addressed  to  our  most  gracious  sovereign ;  it  contained 
the  news  that  our  lost  brother  was  still  alive,  lying 
sick  and  wretched  in  the  hospital  at  Bergamo.  A 
kind  nun  had  written  for  him,  and  we  now  learned  that 
on  the  journey  from  Valencia  to  Livorno  Louis  had 
been  captured  by  corsairs  and  dragged  to  Tunis.  How 
much  suffering  he  endured  there,  with  what  danger  he 
at  last  succeeded  in  obtaining  his  liberty,  you  shall  learn 
later.  He  escaped  to  Italy  on  a  Genoese  galley.  His 
feet  carried  him  as  far  as  Bergamo,  but  he  could  go  no 
farther,  and  now  lay  ill,  perhaps  dying,  among  sympa- 
thizing strangers.  I  set  out  at  once  and  did  not  spare 
horseflesh  on  the  way  to  Bergamo,  but  though  there 
were  many  strange  and  beautiful  things  to  be  seen  on 
my  way,  they  afforded  me  little  pleasure,  the  thought  of 
Louis,  so  dangerously  ill,  saddened  my  joyous  spirits. 
Every  running  brook  urged  me  to  hasten,  and  the  lofty 
mountains  seemed  like  jealous  barriers.  When  once 
beyond  St.  Gotthard  I  felt  less  anxious,  and  as  I 
rode  down  from  Bellinzona  to  Lake  Lugano,  and  the 
sparkhng  surface  of  the  water  beyond  the  city  smiled  at 
me  like  a  blue  eye,  forgot  my  grief  for  a  time,  waved 


THE    BURGOMASTER  S    WIFE.  245 

my  hat,  and  sung  a  song.  In  Bergamo  I  found  my 
brother,  alive,  but  enfeebled  in  mind  and  body,  weak, 
and  without  any  desire  to  take  up  the  burden  of  life 
again.  He  had  been  in  good  hands,  and  after  a  few 
weeks  we  were  able  to  travel  homeward — this  time  I 
went  through  beautiful  Tyrol.  Louis's  strength  daily 
increased,  but  the  wings  of  his  soul  had  been  paralyzed 
by  suffering.  Alas,  for  long  years  he  had  dug  and  car- 
ried heavy  loads,  with  chains  on  his  feet,  beneath  a 
broiling  sun.  Chevalier  von  Brand  could  not  long 
endure  this  hard  fate,  but  Louis,  while  in  Tunis,  forgot 
both  how  to  laugh  and  weep,  and  which  of  the  two  can 
be  most  easily  spared  ? 

"  Even  when  he  saw  my  mother  again,  he  could  not 
shed  a  tear,  yet  his  whole  body — and  surely  his  heart 
also — trembled  with  emotion.  Now  he  lives  quietly  at 
the  castle.  In  the  prime  of  manhood  he  is  an  old  man, 
but  he  is  beginning  to  accommodate  himself  to  life,  only 
he  can't  bear  the  sight  of  a  strange  face.  I  had  a  hard 
battle  with  him,  for  as  the  eldest  son,  the  castle  and 
estate,  according  to  the  law,  belong  to  him,  but  he 
wanted  to  resign  his  rights  and  put  me  in  his  place. 
Even  when  he  had  brought  my  mother  over  to  his  side, 
and  my  uncle  and  brothers  and  sisters  tried  to  persuade 
me  to  yield  to  his  wish,  I  remained  resolute.  I  would 
not  touch  what  did  not  belong  to  me,  and  our  youngest 
boy,  Wolfgang,  has  grown  up,  and  can  fill  my  place 
wherever  it  is  necessary.  When  the  entreaties  and  per- 
suasions became  too  strong  for  me,  I  saddled  my  horse 
and  went  away  again.  It  was  hard  for  my  mother  to 
let  me  go,  but  I  had  tasted  the  delight  of  travelling,  and 
rode  off  as  if  to  a  wedding.  If  I  must  be  perfectly 
frank,  I'll  confess  that  I  resigned  castle  and  estates  like 


246  THE    burgomaster's    WIFE. 

a  troublesome  restraint.  Free  as  the  wind  and  clouds^ 
I  followed  the  same  road  over  which  I  had  ridden  with 
Leonhard,  for  in  your  country  a  war  after  my  own  heart 
was  going  on,  and  my  future  fortune  was  to  be  based 
upon  my  sword.  In  Cologne  I  enlisted  under  the 
banner  of  Louis  of  Nassau,  and  fought  with  him  at 
Mook  Heath  till  every  one  retreated.  My  horse  had 
fallen,  my  doublet  was  torn,  there  was  little  left  save 
good  spirits  and  the  hope  of  better  days.  These  were 
soon  found,  for  Captain  Gensfort  asked  me  to  join  the 
English  troops.  I  became  his  ensign,  and  at  Alfen  held 
out  beside  him  till  the  last  grain  of  powder  was  ex- 
hausted.    What  happened  there,  you  know." 

"  And  Captain  Van  der  Laen  told  us,"  said  Peter, 
"  that  he  owes  his  life  to  you.     You  fought  like  a  lion."' 

*'  It  was  wild  work  enough  at  the  fortifications,  yet 
neither  I  nor  my  horse  had  a  hair  ruffled,  and  this  time 
I  even  saved  my  knapsack  and  a  full  purse.  Fate,  like 
mothers,  loves  troublesome  children  best,  and  therefore 
led  me  to  you  and  your  family,  Herr  Burgomaster." 

*^  And  I  beg  you  to  consider  yourself  one  of  them,'^ 
replied  Peter.  "  We  have  two  pleasant  rooms  looking 
out  upon  the  court-yard;  they  shall  be  put  in  order  for 
you,  if  you  would  like  to  occupy  them." 

**  With  pleasure,"  replied  the  Junker,  and  Peter, 
offering  him  his  hand,  said  : 

"  The  duties  of  my  office  call  me  away,  but  you  can 
tell  the  ladies  what  you  need,  and  when  you  mean  to 
move  in.  The  sooner,  the  better  we  shall  be  pleased. 
Shall  we  not,  Maria  ?" 

"  You  will  be  welcome,  Junker  Georg.  Now  I  must 
look  after  the  invalid  we  are  nursing  here.  Barbara  will 
ascertain  your  wishes." 


THE    BURGOMASTERS    WIFE.  247 

The  young  wife  took  her  husband's  hand  and  left 
the  room  with  him. 

The  widow  was  left  alone  with  the  young  nobleman 
and  tried  to  learn  everything  he  desired.  Then  she  fol- 
lowed her  sister-in-law,  and  finding  her  in  Henrica*s 
room,  clapped  her  hands,  exclaiming : 

''That  is  a  man!  Fraulein,  I  assure  you  that„ 
though  I'm  an  old  woman,  I  never  met  so  fine  a  young 
fellow  in  all  my  life.  So  much  heart,  and  so  handsome 
too  !  '  To  whom  fortune  gives  once,  it  gives  by  bushels, 
and  unto  him  that  hath,  shall  be  given !'  Those  are 
precious  words  !'* 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 

Peter  had  promised  Henrica,  to  request  the  council 
to  give  her  permission  to  leave  the  city. 

It  was  hard  for  her  to  part  from  the  burgomaster's 
household.  Maria's  frank  nature  exerted  a  beneficial 
influence ;  it  seemed  as  if  her  respect  for  her  own  sex 
increased  in  her  society.  The  day  before  she  had  heard 
her  sing.  The  young  wife's  voice  was  like  her  character. 
Every  note  flawless  and  clear  as  a  bell,  and  Henrica 
grieved  that  she  should  be  forbidden  to  mingle  her  own 
voice  with  her  hostess's.  She  was  very  sorry  to  leave 
the  children  too.  Yet  she  was  obliged  to  go,  on  Anna's 
account,  for  her  father  could  not  be  persuaded  by  letters 
to  do  anything.  Had  she  appealed  to  him  in  writing  to 
forgive  his  rejected  child,  he  would  hardly  have  read  the 
epistle  to  the  end.  Something  might  more  easily  be  won 
from  him  through  words,  by  taking  advantage  of  a  favor- 


248  THE    burgomaster's    WIFE.  | 

able  moment.  She  must  have  speech  with  him,  yet  she  ^ 
dreaded  the  Hfe  in  his  castle,  especially  as  she  was  forced  j 
to  acknowledge,  that  she  too  was  by  no  means  necessary  1 
to  her  father.  To  secure  the  inheritance,  he  had  sent  \ 
her  to  a  terrible  existence  with  her  aunt;  while  she  lay  ■ 
dangerously  ill,  he  had  gone  to  a  tournament,  and  the  \ 
letter  received  from  him  the  day  before,  contained 
nothing  but  the  information  that  he  was  refused  admit-  j 
tance  to  the  city,  and  a  summons  for  her  to  go  to  Jun-  \ 
ker  de  Heuter's  house  at  the  Hague.  Enclosed  was  a  '-. 
pass  from  Valdez,  enjoining  all  King  Philip's  soldiers  to  ! 
provide  for  her  safety.  '  \ 

The  burgomaster  had  intended  to  have  her  conveyed  ; 
in  a  litter,  accompanied  by  a  flag  of  truce,  as  far  as  the  i 
Spanish  lines,  and  the  doctor  no  longer  opposed  her  ] 
wish  to  travel.     She  hoped  to  leave  that  day.  \ 

Lost  in  thought,  she  stationed  herself  in  the  bay-  i 
window  and  gazed  out  into  the  court-yard.  Several  ■ 
windows  in  the  building  on  the  eastern  side  stood  open.  ■ 
Trautchen  must  have  risen  early,  for  she  came  out  of  \ 
the  rooms  arranged  for  Georg's  occupation,  followed  by  \ 
a  young  assistant  carrying  various  scrubbing  utensils.  ; 
Next  Jan  appeared  with  a  large  arm-chair  on  his  head.  | 
Bessie  ran  after  the  Frieselander,  calling :  \ 

"  Aunt  Barbel's  grandfather's  chair ;  where  will  she  \ 
take  her  afternoon  nap  ?"  \ 

Henrica  had  heard  the  words,  and  thought  first  of  j 
good  old  "  Babetta,"  who  could  also  feel  tenderly,  then  ; 
of  Maria  and  tlie  man  who  was  to  lodge  in  the  rooms  I 
opposite.  Were  there  not  some  loose  threads  still  re- 
maining of  the  old  tie,  that  had  united  the  burgomaster's  \ 
wife  to  the  handsome  nobleman  ?  A  feeling  of  dread  \ 
overpowered  her.     Poor    Meister   Peter,   poor   Maria!  ] 


■I 


THE    BURGOMASTERS    WIFE.  249 

Was  it  right  to  abandon  the  young  wife,  who  had  held 
out  a  saving  hand  in  her  distress  ?  Yet  how  much 
nearer  was  her  own  sister  than  this  stranger  !  Each  day 
that  she  allowed  herself  to  linger  in  this  peaceful  asylum, 
seemed  like  a  theft  from  Anna — since  she  had  read  in  a 
letter  from  her  to  her  husband,  the  only  one  the  dead 
man's  pouch  contained,  that  she  was  ill  and  sunk  in 
poverty  with  her  child. 

Help  was  needed  here,  and  no  one  save  herself  could 
offer  it. 

With  aid  from  Barbara  and  Maria,  she  packed  her 
clothes.  At  noon  everything  was  ready  for  her  de- 
parture, and  she  would  not  be  withheld  from  eating  in 
the  dining-room  with  the  family.  Peter  was  prevented 
from  coming  to  dinner,  Henrica  took  his  seat  and,  under 
the  mask  of  loud,  forced  mirth,  concealed  the  grief  and 
anxieties  that  filled  her  heart.  At  twilight  Maria  and 
the  children  followed  her  into  her  room,  and  she  now 
had  the  harp  brought  and  sang.  At  first  her  voice  failed 
to  reach  many  a  note,  but  as  the  snow  falling  from  the 
mountain  peaks  to  the  plains  at  first  slides  sjowly,  then 
rapidly  increases  in  bulk  and  power,  her  tones  gradu- 
ally gained  fulness  and  irresistible  might  and,  when  at 
last  she  rested  the  harp  against  the  wall  and  walked  to 
the  chair  exhausted,  Maria  clasped  her  hand  and  said 
with  deep  emotion  : 

"  Stay  with  us,  Henrica." 

"  I  ought  not,"  replied  the  girl.  *'  You  are  enough 
for  each  other.     Shall  I  take  you  with  me,  children  ?" 

Adrian  lowered  his  eyes  in  embarrassment,  but 
Bessie  jumped  into  her  lap,  exclaiming  . 

'^  Where  are  you  going  ?     Stay  with  us. 

Just  at  that  moment  some  one  knocked  at  the  door, 


250  THE    BURGOMASTERS    WIFE, 

and  Peter  entered.  It  was  evident  that  he  brought  no 
good  tidings.  His  request  had  been  refused.  The  | 
council  had  almost  unanimously  voted  an  assent  to  Van  ] 
Bronkhorst's  proposition,  that  the  young  lady,  as  a  ' 
relation  of  prominent  friends  of  Spain  among  the  Nether-  ; 
land  nobility,  should  be  kept  in  the  city.  Peter's  repre-  : 
sentations  were  unheeded  ;  he  now  frankly  told  Henrica  ; 
what  a  conflict  he  had  had,  and  entreated  her  to  have  • 
patience  and  be  content  to  remain  in  his  house  as  a  \ 
welcome  guest.  \ 

The  young  girl  interrupted  him  with  many  a  pas-  \ 
sionate  exclamation  of  indignation,  and  when  she  grew  | 
calmer,  cried : 

"  Oh,  you  men,  you  men  !  I  would  gladly  stay  j 
with  you,  but  you  know  from  w^hat  this  base  deed  of  j 
violence  detains  me.  And  then :  to  be  a  prisoner,  to  | 
live  weeks,  months,  without  mass  and  without  confession.  ] 
Yet  first  and  last — merciful  Heavens,  what  will  become  ! 
of  my  unfortunate  sister  ?"  '; 

Maria  gazed  beseechingly  at  Peter,  and  the  latter  ■ 
said :  \ 

"  If  you  desire  the  consolations  of  your  religion,  I  ^ 
will  send  Father  Damianus  to  you,  and  you  can  hear  | 
mass  with  the  Grey  Sisters,  who  live  beside  us,  as  often  { 
as  you  desire.  We  are  not  fighting  against  yolir  religion,  1 
but  for  the  free  exercise  of  every  faith,  and  the  whole  .: 
city  stands  open  to  you.  My  wife  will  help  you  bear  \ 
your  anxiety  about  your  siater  far  better  tlian  I  could  i 
do,  but  let  me  say  this :  wherever  and  however  I  can  ] 
help  you,  it  shall  be  done,  and  not  merely  in  words."       \ 

So  saying,  he  held  out  his  hand  to  Henrica.  She  i 
gave  him  hers,  exclaiming :  j 

**  I   have  cause  to  thank  you,  I  know,  but  please  i 


THE    BURGOMASTERS    WIFE.  25 1 

leave  me  now  and  give  me  time  to  think  until  to- 
morrow." 

"  Is  there  no  way  of  changing  the  decision  of  the 
council  ?  "  Maria  asked  her  husband. 

"  No,  certainly  not." 

"  Well,  then,"  said  the  young  wife  earnestly,  '*  you 
jTiust  remain  our  guest.  Anxiety  for  your  sister  does 
not  cloud  your  pleasure  alone,  but  saddens  me  too. 
Let  us  first  of  all  provide  for  her.  How  are  the  roads 
to  Delft  ?" 

*^  They  are  cut,  and  no  one  will  be  able  to  pass  after 
to-morrow  or  the  day  after." 

"  Then  calm  yourself,  Henrica,  and  let  us  consider 
what  is  to  be  done." 

The  questions  and  counter-questions  began,  and 
Henrica  gazed  in  astonishment  at  the  delicate  young 
wife,  for  with  unerring  resolution  and  keenness,  she  held 
the  first  voice  in  the  consultation.  The  surest  means  of 
gaining  information  was  to  seek  that  very  day  a  reliable 
messenger,  by  whom  to  send  Anna  d'Avila  money, 
and  if  possible  bring  her  to  Holland.  The  burgomaster 
declared  himself  ready  to  advance  from  his  own  pro- 
perty, a  portion  of  the  legacy  bequeathed  Henrica*s 
sister  by  P'raulein  Van  Hoogstraten,  and  accepted  his 
guest's  thanks  without  constraint. 

"  But  whom  could  they  send  ?  " 

Henrica  thought  of  Wilhelm ;  he  was  her  sister's 
friend. 

"  But  he  is  in  the  military  service,"  replied  the 
burgomaster.  "  I  know  him.  He  will  not  desert  the 
city  in  these  times  of  trouble,  not  even  for  his  mother." 

"  But  I  know  the  right  messenger,"  said  Maria. 
"We'll  send  Junker  Georg." 


252  THE    burgomaster's    WIFE. 

"  That's  a  good  suggestion,"  said  Peter.  *'  We  shall 
find  him  in  his  lodgings.  I  must  go  to  Van  Hout,  who 
lives  close  by,  and  will  send  the  German  to  you.  But 
my  time  is  limited,  and  with  such  gentlemen,  fair  women 
can  accomplish  more  than  bearded  men.  Farewell, 
dear  Fraulein,  once  more — we  rejoice  to  have  you  for 
our  guest." 

When  the  burgomaster  had  left  the  room,  Henrica 
said: 

"  How  quickly,  and  how  differently  from  what  I  ex- 
pected, all  this  has  happened.  I  love  you.  I  am  under 
obligations  to  you,  but  to  be  imprisoned,  imprisoned. — 
The  walls  will  press  upon  me,  the  ceiling  will  seem  like 
a  weight.  I  don't  know  whether  I  ought  to  rejoice  or 
despair.  You  have  great  influence  with  the  Junker. 
Tell  him  about  Anna,  touch  his  heart,  and  if  he  would 
go,  it  would  really  be  best  for  us  both." 

"  You  mean  for  you  and  your  sister,"  replied  Maria 
with  a  repellent  gesture  of  the  hand.  "  There  is  the 
lamp.  When  the  Junker  comes,  we  shall  see  each  other 
again." 

Maria  went  to  her  room  and  threw  herself  on  the 
couch,  but  soon  rose  and  paced  restlessly  to  and  fro. 
Then  stretching  out  her  clasped  hands,  she  exclaimed : 

"  Oh,  if  he  would  only  go,  if  he  would  only  go ! 
Merciful  God  !  Kind,  gracious  Father  in  Heaven,  grant 
him  every  happiness,  every  blessing,  but  save  my  peace 
of  mind ;  let  him  go,  and  lead  him  far,  far  away  from 
here." 


THE    burgomaster's    WIFE  253 


CHAPTER  XXV. 

The  tavern  where  Georg  von  Dornburg  lodged  stood 
on  the  **  broad  street,"  and  was  a  fine  building  with 
a  large  court-yard,  in  which  were  numerous  vehicles. 
On  the  left  of  the  entrance  was  a  large  open  room 
entered  through  a  lofty  archway.  Here  the  drivers  and 
other  folk  sat  over  their  beer  and  wine,  suffering  the 
innkeeper's  hens  to  fly  on  the  benches  and  even  some- 
times on  the  table,  here  vegetables  were  cleaned,  boiled 
and  fried,  here  the  stout  landlady  was  frequently  obliged 
to  call  her  sturdy  maid  and  men  servants  to  her  aid,  when 
her  guests  came  to  actual  fighting,  or  some  one  drank 
more  than  was  good  for  him.  Here  the  new  custom  of 
tobacco-smoking  was  practised,  though  only  by  a  few 
sailors  who  had  served  on  Spanish  ships — but  Frau  Van 
Aken  could  not  endure  the  acrid  smoke  and  opened  the 
windows,  which  were  filled  with  blooming  pinks,  slender 
stalks  of  balsam,  and  cages  containing  bright-plumaged 
goldfinches.  On  the  side  opposite  to  the  entrance  were 
two  closed  rooms.  Above  the  door  of  one,  neatly 
carved  in  wood,  were  the  lines  from  Horace : 

"  Ille  terrarum  mihi  praeter  omnes. 
Angulus  ridet."  * 

Only  a  few  chosen  guests  found  admittance  into  this 
long,  narrow  apartment.  It  was  completely  wainscoted 
with  wood,  and  from  the  centre  of  the  richly-carved 

*  Of  all  the  corners  of  the  world, 
There  is  none  that  so  charms  me. 


2  54  THE    BURGOMASTERS    WIFE.  '! 

J 

ceiling  a  strange  picture  gleamed  in  brilliant  hues.  This  ] 
represented  the  landlord.  The  worthy  man  with  the  : 
smooth  face,  firmly-closed  lips,  and  long  nose,  which  ! 
offered  an  excellent  straight  line  to  its  owner's  burin,  j 
sat  on  a  throne  in  the  costume  of  a  Roman  general,  1 
while  Vulcan  and  Bacchus,  Minerva  and  Pomona,  i 
offered  him  gifts.  Klaus  Van  Aken,  or  as  he  preferred  j 
to  be  called,  Nicolaus  Aquanus,  was  a  singular  man,  j 
who  had  received  good  gifts  from  more  than  one  of  the  ■ 
Olympians ;  for  besides  his  business  he  zealously  de-  j 
voted  himself  to  science  and  several  of  the  arts.  He  \ 
was  an  excellent  silver-smith,  a  die-cutter  and  engraver  i 
of  great  skill,  had  a  remarkable  knowledge  of  coins,  was  1 
an  industrious  student  and  collector  of  antiquities.  His 
little  tap-room  was  also  a  museum ;  for  on  the  shelves,  ; 
that  surrounded  it,  stood  rare  objects  of  every  descrip-  ' 
tion,  in  rich  abundance  and  regular  order ;  old  jugs  and  i 
tankards,  large  and  small  coins,  gems  in  ^carefully-sealed 
glass-cases,  antique  lamps  of  clay  and  bronze,  stones  \ 
with  ancient  Roman  inscriptions,  Roman  and  Greek  ! 
terra-cotta,  polished  fragments  of  marble  which  he  had  \ 
found  in  Italy  among  the  ruins,  the  head  of  a  faun,  an  ; 
arm,  a  foot  and  other  bits  of  Pagan  works  of  art,  a  \ 
beautifully-enamelled  casket  of  Byzantine  work,  and  j 
another  with  enamelled  ornamentation  from  Limoges,  i 
Even  half  a  Roman  coat  of  mail  and  a  bit  of  mosaic  \ 
from  a  Roman  bath  were  to  be  seen  here.  Amid  these  \ 
antiquities,  stood  beautiful  Venetian  glasses,  pine-cones  j 
and  ostrich -eggs.  Such  another  tap-room  could  scarcely  \ 
be  found  in  Holland,  and  even  the  liquor,  which  a  i 
neatly-dressed  maid  poured  for  the  guests  from  oddly-  I 
shaped  tankards  into  exquisitely- wrought  goblets,  was  ] 
exceptionally  fine.     In  this  room  H err  Aquanus  himself  j 


THE    BURGOMASTERS    WIFE.  255 

was  in  the  habit  of  appearing  among  his  guests ;  in  the 
other,  opposite  to  the  entrance,  his  wife  held  sway. 

On  this  day,  the  "  Angulus,"  as  the  beautiful  tap- 
room was  called,  was  but  thinly  occupied,  for  the  sun 
had  just  set,  though  the  lamps  were  already  lighted. 
These  rested  in  three-branched  iron  chandeliers,  every 
portion  of  which,  from  the  slender  central  shaft  to  the 
intricately-carved  and  twisted  ornaments,  had  been  care- 
fully wrought  by  Aquanus  with  his  own  hand. 

Several  elderly  gentlemen  were  at  one  table  enjoying 
their  wine,  while  at  another  were  Captain 4if an  der  Laen, 
a  brave  Hollander,  who  was  receiving  English  pay  and 
had  come  to  the  city  with  the  other  defenders  of  Alfen, 
the  musician  Wilhelm,  Junker  Georg,  and  the  land- 
lord. 

"  It's  a  pleasure  to  meet  people  like  you,  Junker," 
said  Aquanus.  "  You've  travelled  with  your  eyes  open, 
and  what  you  tell  me  about  Brescia  excites  my  curiosity. 
I  should  have  liked  to  see  the  inscription." 

'^  I'll  get  it  for  you,"  replied  the  young  man;  ^'  for  if 
the  Spaniards  don't  send  me  into  another  world,  I  shall 
certainly  cross  the  Alps  again.  Did  you  find  any  of 
these  Roman  antiquities  in  your  own  country  ?" 

"  Yes.  At  the  Roomburg  Canal,  perhaps  the  site  of 
the  old  Praetorium,  and  at  Katwyk.  The  forum 
Hadriani  was  probably  located  near  Voorburg.  The 
coat  of  mail,  I  showed  you,  came  from  there." 

"  An  old,  green,  half-corroded  thing,"  cried  Georg. 
''  And  yet !  What  memories  the  sight  of  it  awakens ! 
Did  not  some  Roman  armorer  forge  it  for  the  wander- 
ing emperor?  When  I  look  at  this  coat  of  mail,  Rome 
and  her  legions  appear  before  my  eyes.  Who  would  not, 
like  you,  Herr  Wilhelm,  go  to  the  Tiber  to   increase 


256  THE    burgomaster's    WIFE. 

the  short  span  of  the  present  by  the  long  centuries  of 
the  past ! " 

"  I  should  be  glad  to  go  to  Italy  once  more  with 
you,"  replied  Wilhelm. 

"  And  I  with  you." 

*^  Let  us  first  secure  our  liberty,"  said  the  musician. 
"  When  that  is  accomplished,  each  individual  will 
belong  to  himself,  and  then :  why  should  I  conceal  it, 
nothing  will  keep  me  in  Leyden." 

*^  And  the  organ  ?     Your  father  ?"  asked  Aquanus. 

*'  My  brcAers  will  remain  here,  snug  in  their  own 
nest,"  answered  Wilhelm.  "  But  something  urges,  im- 
pels me — " 

'  "  There  are  still  waters  and  rivers  on  earth,"  inter- 
rupted Georg,  *^  and  in  the  sky  the  fixed  stars  remain 
quiet  and  the  planets  cannot  cease  from  wandering.  So 
among  human  beings,  there  are  contented  persons,  who 
like  their  own  places,  and  birds  of  passage  like  us.  To 
be  sure,  you  needn't  go  to  Italy  to  hear  fine  singing.  I 
just  heard  a  voice,  a  voice — " 

"  Where  ?     You  make  me  eager." 

*^  In  the  court-yard  of  Herr  Van  der  Werff's  house." 

"  That  was  his  wife." 

"  Oh,  no!     Her  voice  sounds  differently." 

During  this  conversation.  Captain  Van  der  Laen  had 
risen  and  examined  the  landlord's  singular  treasures. 
He  was  now  standing  before  a  board,  on  which  the 
head  of  an  ox  was  sketched  in  charcoal,  freely,  boldly 
and  with  perfect  fidelity  to  nature. 

"  What  magnificent  piece  of  beef  is  this  ?"  he  asked 
the  landlord. 

"  No  less  a  personage  than  Frank  Floris  sketched 
it,"  rephed  Aquanus.     "-  He  once  came  here  from  Brus- 


THE    burgomaster's   WIFF.     '^  U^    /   -a 

sels  and  called  on  Meister  Artjeh.  The  old  mzxi  hti^.^^ 
gone  out,  so  Floris  took  a  bit  of  charcoal  and  drew 
these  lines  with  it.  When  Artjen  came  home  and  found 
the  ox's  head,  he  stood  before  it  a  long  time  and  finally 
exclaimed  :  *  Frank  Floris,  or  the  devil !'  This  story — 
But  there  comes  the  burgomaster.  Welcome,  Meister 
Peter.     A  rare  honor." 

All  the  guests  rose  and  respectfully  greated  Van  der 
Werff ;  Georg  started  up  to  offer  him  his  chair.  Peter 
sat  down  for  a  short  time  and  drank  a  glass  of  wine, 
but  soon  beckoned  to  the  Junker  and  went  out  with 
him  into  the  street. 

There  he  briefly  requested  him  to  go  to  his  house, 
for  they  had  an  important  communication  to  make,  and 
then  went  to  Van  Hout's  residence,  which  was  close 
beside  the  inn. 

Georg  walked  thoughtfully  towards  the  burgo- 
master's. 

The  "they"  could  scarcely  have  referred  to  any  one 
except  Maria.  What  could  she  want  of  him  at  so  late 
an  hour  ?  Had  his  friend  regretted  having  offered  him 
lodgings  in  her  own  house  ?  He  was  to  move  into  his 
new  quarters  early  next  morning ;  perhaps  she  wished 
to  inform  him  of  this  change  of  mind,  before  it  was  too 
late.  Maria  treated  him  differently  from  before,  there 
was  no  doubt  of  that,  but  surely  this  was  natural !  He 
had  dreamed  of  a  different,  far  different  meeting!  He 
had  come  to  Holland  to  support  the  good  cause  of 
Orange,  yet  he  would  certainly  have  turned  his  steed 
towards  his  beloved  Italy,  where  a  good  sword  was 
always  in  demand,  instead  of  to  the  north,  had  he  not 
hoped  to  find  in  Holland  her,  whom  he  had  never  for- 
gotten, for  whom  he  had  never  ceased  to  long —  Now 
17 


258  THE    burgomaster's    WIFE. 

she  was  the  wife  of  another,  a  man  who  had  shown  him 
kindness,  given  him  his  confidence.  To  tear  his  love 
from  his  heart  was  impossible;  but  he  owed  it  to  her 
husband  and  his  own  honor  to  be  strong,  to  resolutely 
repress  every  thought  of  possessing  her,  and  only  rejoice 
in  seeing  her;  and  this  he  must  try  to  accomplish. 

He  had  told  himself  all  these  things  more  than  once, 
but  realized  that  he  was  walking  with  unsteady  steps, 
upon  a  narrow  pathway,  when  she  met  him  outside  the 
dining-room  and  he  felt  how  cold  and  tremulous  was 
the  hand  she  laid  in  his.    * 

Maria  led  the  way,  and  he  silently  followed  her  into 
Henrica's  room.  The  latter  greeted  him  with  a  friendly 
gesture,  but  both  ladies  hesitated  to  utter  the  first  word. 
The  young  man  turned  hastily,  noticed  that  he  was  in 
the  room  overlooking  the  court-yard,  and  said,  eagerly : 

"  I  was  down  below  just  before  twiHght,  to  look  at 
my  new  quarters,  and  heard  singing  from  this  room,  and 
such  singing  !  At  first  I  didn't  know  what  was  coming, 
for  the  tones  were  husky,  weak,  and  broken,  but  after- 
wards— afterwards  the  melody  burst  forth  like  a  stream 
of  lava  through  the  ashes.  We  ought  to  wish  many 
sorrows  to  one,  who  can  lament  thus." 

"  You  shall  make  the  singer's  acquaintance,"  said 
Maria,  motioning  towards  the  young  girl.  "  Fraulein 
Henrica  Van  Hoogstraten,  a  beloved  guest  in  our 
house." 

"  Were  you  the  songstress  ?"  asked  Georg. 

"  Does  that  surprise  you  ?"  replied  Henrica.  ."  My 
voice  has  certainly  retained  its  strength  better  than  my 
body,  wasted  by  long  continued  suffering.  I  feel  how 
deeply  my  eyes  are  sunken  and  how  pale  I  must  be. 
Singing  certamly  lightens  pain,  and  I  have  been  de- 


THE    burgomaster's    WIFE.  259 

prived  of  the  comforter  long  enough.  Not  a  note  has 
passed  my  Hps  for  weeks,  and  now  my  heart  aches  so, 
that  I  would  far  rather  weep  than  sing.  '  What  troubles 
me  ?'  you  will  ask,  and  yet  Maria  gives  me  courage  to 
request  a  chivalrous  service,  almost  without  parallel,  at 
your  hands." 

"  Speak,  speak,"  Georg  eagerly  exclaimed.  "  If 
Frau  Maria  summons  me  and  I  can  serve  you,  dear 
lady :  here  I  am,  dispose  of  me." 

Henrica  did  not  avoid  his  frank  glance,  as  she 
replied : 

"  First  hear  what  a  great  service  we  ask  of  you. 
You  must  prepare  yourself  to  hear  a  short  story.  I 
am  still  weak  and  have  put  my  strength  to  a  severe  test 
to-day,  Maria  must  speak  for  me." 

The  young  wife  fulfilled  this  task  quietly  and  clearly, 
closing  with  the  words : 

"  The  messenger  we  need,  I  have  found  myself  You 
must  be  he.  Junker  Georg." 

Henrica  had  not  interrupted  the  burgomaster's  wife ; 
but  now  said  warmly  : 

"  I  have  only  made  your  acquaintance  to-day,  but  I 
trust  you  entirely.  A  few  hours  ago,  black  would  have 
been  my  color,  but  if  you  will  be  my  knight,  I'll  choose 
cheerful  green,  for  I  now  begin  to  hope  again.  Will  you 
venture  to  take  the  ride  for  me  ?" 

Hitherto  Georg  had  gazed  silently  at  the  floor.  Now 
he  raised  his  head,  saying : 

"  If  I  can  obtain  leave  of  absence,  I  will  place  my- 
self at  your  disposal ; — but  my  lady's  color  is  blue,  and 
I  am  permitted  to  wear  no  other." 

Henrica'slips  quivered  slighdy,  but  the  young  noble- 
man continued : 

17  * 


26o  THE    burgomaster's    WIFE. 

"  Captain  Van  der  Laen  is  my  superior  officer.  Ill 
speak  to  him  at  once." 

"  And  if  he  says  no  ?"  asked  Maria. 

Henrica  interrupted  her  and  answered  haughtily : 

"Then  I  beg  you  to  send  me  Herr  Wilhelm,  the 
musician." 

Georg  bowed  and  went  to  the  tavern. 

As  soon  as  the  ladies  were  alone,  the  young  girl 
asked  : 

"  Do  you  know  Herr  von  Dornburg's  lady  ?  " 

"  How  should  I  ?  "  replied  Maria.  "  Give  yourself  a 
little  rest,  Fraulein.  As  soon  as  the  Junker  comes  back, 
I'll  bring  him  to  you." 

The  young  wife  left  the  room  and  seated  herself  at 
the  spinning-wheel  with  Barbara  Georg  kept  them 
waiting  a  long  time,  but  at  midnight  again  appeared, 
accompanied  by  two  companions.  It  was  not  within 
the  limits  of  the  captain's  authority  to  grant  him  a  leave 
of  absence  for  several  weeks  —  the  journey  to  Italy 
would  have  required  that  length  of  time — but  the 
Junker  had  consulted  the  musician,  and  the  latter  had 
found  the  right  man,  with  whom  Wilhelm  speedily 
made  the  necessary  arrangements,  and  brought  him 
without  delay :  it  was  the  old  steward,  Belotti. 


CHAPTER  XXVI. 

On  the  morning  of  the  following  day  the  spacious 
shooting-grounds,  situated  not  far  from  the  White 
Gate,  between  the  Rapenburg  and  the  city- wall,  pre- 
sented a  busy  scene,  for  by  a  decree  of  the  council 


i 


THE    burgomaster's    WIFE.  261 

the  citizens  and  inhabitants,  without  exception,  no 
matter  whether  they  were  poor  or  rich,  of  noble  or 
plebeian  birth,  were  to  take  a  solemn  oath  to  be  loyal 
to  the  Prince  and  the  good  cause. 

Commissioner  Van  Bronkhorst,  Burgomaster  Van 
der  Werff,  and  two  other  magistrates,  clad  in  festal 
attire,  stood  under  a  group  of.  beautiful  linden-trees  to 
receive  the  oaths  of  the  men  and  youths,  who  flocked  to 
the  spot.  The  solemn  ceremonial  had  not  yet  com- 
menced. Janus  Dousa,  in  full  uniform,  a  coat  of  mail 
over  his  doublet  and  a  helmet  on  his  head,  arm-in-arm 
with  Van  Hout,  approached  Meister  Peter  and  the 
commissioner,  saying:  "  Here  it  is  again!  Not  one  of 
the  humbler  citizens  and  workmen  is  absent,  but  the 
gentlemen  in  velvet  and  fur  are  but  thinly  represented." 

"  They  shall  come  yet !"  cried  the  city  clerk  men- 
acingly. 

"  What  will  formal  vows  avail  ?"  replied  the  burgo- 
master. "  Whoever  desires  liberty,  must  grant  it. 
Besides,  this  hour  will  teach  us  on  whom  we  can 
depend." 

"  Not  a  single  man  of  the  militia  is  absent,"  said  the 
commissioner. 

"  There  is  comfort  in  that.  What  is  stirring  yonder 
in  the  linden  ?" 

The  men  looked  up  and  perceived  Adrian,  who  was 
swaying  in  the  top  of  the  tree,  as  a  concealed  listener. 

"  The  boy  must  be  everywhere,"  exclaimed  Peter. 
<*  Come  down,  saucy  lad.  You  appear  at  a  convenient 
time." 

The  boy  clung  to  a  limb  with  his  hands,  let  himself 
drop  to  the  ground  and  stood  before  his  father  with  a 
penitent   face,  which    he  knew  how   to   assume    when 


262  THE    burgomaster's    WIFE. 

occasion  required.  The  burgomaster  uttered  no  further 
words  of  reproof,  but  bade  him  go  home  and  tell  his 
mother,  that  he  saw  no  possibility  of  getting  Belotti 
through  the  Spanish  lines  in  safety,  and  also  that  Father 
Damianus  had  promised  to  call  on  the  young  lady  in 
the  course  of  the  day. 

"  Hurry,  Adrian,  and  you,  constables,  keep  all  un- 
bidden persons  away  from  these  trees,  for  any  place 
where  an  oath  is  taken  becomes  sacred  ground —  The 
clergymen  have  seated  themselves  yonder  near  the 
target.  They  have  the  precedence.  Have  the  kind- 
ness to  summon  them,  Herr  Van  Hout.  Dominie 
Verstroot  wishes  to  make  an  address,  and  then  I  would 
like  to  utter  a  few  words  of  admonition  to  the  citizens 
myself" 

Van  Hout  withdrew,  but  before  he  had  reached  the 
preachers  Junker  von  Warmond  appeared,  and  reported 
that  a  messenger,  a  handsome  young  lad,  had  come  as 
an  envoy.  He  was  standing  before  the  White  Gate  and 
had  a  letter. 

"  From  Valdez  ?" 

"  I  don't  know ;  but  the  young  fellow  is  a  Hollander 
and  his  face  is  familiar  to  me." 

"  Conduct  him  here ;  but  don't  interrupt  us  until  the 
ceremony  of  taking  the  oath  is  over.  The  messenger 
can  tell  Valdez  what  he  has  seen  and  heard  here.  It 
will  do.  the  Castilian  good,  to  know  in  advance  what  we 
intend." 

The  Junker  withdrew,  and  when  he  returned  with 
Nicolas  Van  Wfbisma,  who  was  the  messenger.  Dominie 
Verstroot  had  finished  his  stirring  speech.  Van  der 
WerfF  was  still  speaking.  The  sacred  fire  of  enthusiasm 
sparkled  in  his  eyes,  and  though  the  few  words  he  ad- 


THE    burgomaster's    WIFE.  263 

dressed  to  his  fellow-combatants  in  the  deepest  chest 
tones  of  his  powerful  voice  were  plain  and  unadorned, 
they  found  their  way  to  the  souls  of  his  auditors. 

Nicolas  also  followed  the  speech  with  a  throbbing 
heart ;  it  seemed  as  if  the  tall,  earnest  man  under  the 
linden  were  speaking  directly  to  him  and  to  him  alone, 
when  at  the  close  he  raised  his  voice  once  more  and  ex- 
claimed enthusiastically  : 

*'  And  now  let  what  will,  come !  A  brave  man  from 
your  midst  has  said  to-day :  *  We  will  not  yield,  so  long 
as  an  arm  is  left  on  our  bodies,  to  raise  foocjl  to  our  lips 
and  wield  a  sword ! '  If  we  all  think  thus,  twenty 
Spanish  armies  w^ill  find  their  graves  before  these  walls. 
On  Leyden  depends  the  liberty  of  Holland.  If  we 
waver  and  fall,  to  escape  the  misery  that  only  threatens 
us  to-day,  but  will  pitilessly  oppress  and  torture  us  later, 
our  children  will  say :  *  The  men  of  Leyden  were  blind 
cowards ;  it  is  their  fault,  that  the  name  of  Hollander  is 
held  in  no  higher  esteem,  than  that  of  a  useless  slave.* 
But  if  we  faithfully  hold  out  and  resist  the  gloomy 
foreigner  to  the  last  man  and  the  last  mouthful  of  bread, 
they  will  remember  us  with  tears  and  joyfully  exclaim : 
^  We  owe  it  to  them,  that  our  noble,  industrious,  happy 
people  is  permitted  to  place  itself  proudly  beside  the 
other  nations,  and  need  no  longer  tolerate  the  miserable 
cuckoo  in  its  own  nest.  Let  whoever  loves  honor, 
whoever  is  no  degenerate  wretch,  that  betrays  his 
parents'  house,  whoever  would  rather  be  a  free  man 
than  a  slave,  ere  raising  his  hand  before  God  to  take 
the  oath,  exclaim  with  me :  '  Long  live  our  shield. 
Orange,  and  a  free  Holland  ! '  " 

''They  shall  live!"  shouted  hundreds  of  powerful 
voices,  five,  ten,  twenty  times.     The  gunner  discharged 


264  THE    burgomaster's    WIFE.  ■ 

the  cannon  planted  near  the  target,  drums  beat,  one  \ 
flourish  of  trumpets  after  another  filled  the  air,  the  \ 
ringing  of  bells  from  all  the  towers  of  the  city  echoed  \ 
over  the  heads  of  the  enthusiastic  crowd,  and  the  cheering  1 
continued  until  the  commissioner  waved  his  hand  and  ; 
the  swearing  fealty  began.  ) 

The  guilds  and  the  armed  defenders  of  the  city  j 
pressed  forward  in  bands  under  the  linden.  Now  i 
impetuously,  now  with  dignified  calmness,  now  with  \ 
devout  exaltation,  hands  were  raised  to  take  the  oath,  \ 
and  whoever  clasped  hands  did  so  with  fervent  warmth.  ; 
Two  hours  elapsed  before  all  had  sworn  loyalty,  and  \ 
many  a  group  that  had  passed  under  the  linden  together,  j 
warmly  grasped  each  other's  hands  on  the  grounds  in  ; 
pledge  of  a  second  silent  vow.  i 

Nicolas  Van  Wibisma  sat  silently,  with  his  letter  in  | 
his  lap,  beside  a  target  opposite  the  spot  where  the  i 
oath  was  taken,  but  sorrowful,  bitter  emotions  were  J 
seething  in  his  breast.  How  gladly  he  would  have  wept  ■ 
aloud  and  torn*  his  father's  letter  !  How  gladly,  when  \ 
he  saw  the  venerable  Herr  Van  Montfort  come  hand  in  j 
hand  with  the  grey-haired  Van  der  Does  to  be  sworn,  he  t 
would  have  rushed  to  their  side  to  take  the  oath,  and  j 
call  to  the  earnest  man  beneath  the  hnden :  j 

"  I  am  no  degenerate  wretch,  who  betrays  his  | 
parents'  house  ;  I  desire  to  be  no  slave,  no  Spaniard ;  ; 
I  am  a  Netherlander,  like  yourself" 

But  he  did  not  go,  did  not  speak,  he  remained  sit-  \ 
ting  motionless  till  the  ceremony  was  over  and  Junker  j 
von  Warmond  conducted  him  under  the  linden.  Van  ! 
Hout  and  both  the  Van  der  Does  had  joined  the  magis-  | 
trates  who  had  administered  the  oath.  Bowing  silently,  \ 
Nicolas  deUvered  his  father's  letter  to  the  burgomaster.  \ 


THE    burgomaster's    WIFE.  265 

Van  der  Werff  broke  the  seal,  and  after  reading  it, 
handed  it  to  the  other  gentlemen,  then  turning  to  Nico- 
las, said : 

"  Wait  here,  Junker.  Your  father  counsels  us  to 
yield  the  city  to  the  Spaniards,  and  promises  a  pardon 
from  the  King.  You  cannot  doubt  the  answer,  after 
what  you  have  heard  in  this  place." 

"  There  is  but .  one,*'  cried  Van  Hout,  in  the  midst 
of  reading  the  letter.  "  Tear  the  thing  up  and  make 
no  reply." 

"  Ride  home,  in  God's  name,"  added  Janus  Dousa. 
'*  But  wait,  I'll  give  you  something  more  for  Valdez." 

"  Then  you  will  vouchsafe  no  reply  to  my  father's 
letter  ?"  asked  Nicolas. 

"  No,  Junker.  We  wish  to  hold  no  intercourse  with 
Baron  Matanesse,"  replied  the  commissioner.  "  As  for 
you,  you  can  return  home  or  wait  here ;  just  as  you 
choose." 

"Go  to  your  cousin.  Junker,"  said  Janus  Dousa 
kindly;  **  it  will  probably  be  an  hour  before  I  can  find 
paper,  pen  and  sealing  wax.  Fraulein  Van  Hoogstraten 
will  be  glad  to  hear,  through  you,  from  her  father." 

*'  If  agreeable  to  you,  young  sir,"  added  the  burgo- 
master; "  my  house  stands  open  to  you." 

Nicolas  hesitated  a  moment,  then  said  quickly : 

"  Yes,  take  me  to  her." 

When  the  youth  had  reached  the  north  end  of  the 
city  with  Herr  von  Warmond,  who  had  undertaken  to 
accompany  him,  he  asked  the  latter : 

"  Are  you  Junker  Van  Duivenvoorde,  Herr  von 
Warmond  ?" 

"  I  am." 


266  THE    burgomaster's    WIFE.  ^ 

i 

"  And  you  captured  Brill,  with  the  Beggars,  from  the] 
Spaniards  ?"  ^ 

"  I  had  that  good  fortune." 

"  And  yet,  you  are  of  a  good  old  family.  And  were ; 
there  not  other  noblemen  with  the  Beggars  also  ?"  ! 

"  Certainly.  Do  you  suppose  it  ill-beseems  us,  to  I 
have  a  heart  for  our  ancestors'  home  ?  My  forefathers, ; 
as  well  as  yours,  were  noble  before  a  Spaniard  ever  en-  j 
tered  the  land."  j 

"  But  King  Philip  rules  us  as  the  lawful  sover-  j 
eign."  i 

"  Unhappily.  And  therefore  we  obey  his  Stadt- : 
holder,  the  Prince,  who  reigns  in  his  name.  The  per-  j 
jured  hangman  needs  a  guardian.  Ask  on;  I'll  answer] 
willingly."  j 

Nicolas  did  not  heed  the  request,  but  walked  silently  j 
beside  his  companion  until  they  reached  the  Achter-  \ 
gracht.  There  he  stood  still,  seized  the  captain's  arm  in  \ 
great  excitement,  and  said  hastily  in  low,  broken  sen-  ■ 
tences :  \ 

*'  It  weighs  on  my  heart.  I  must  tell  some  one.  I  j 
want  to  be  Dutch.  I  hate  the  Castilians.  I  have] 
learned  to  know  them  in  Leyderdorp  and  at  the  Hague.  i 
They  don't  heed  me,  because  I  am  young,  and  they  are! 
not  aware  that  I  understand  their  language.  So  my  \ 
eyes  were  opened.  When  they  speak  of  us,  it  is  with  i 
contempt  and  scorn.  I  know  all  that  has  been  done  by  \ 
Alva  and  Vargas.  I  have  heard  from  the  Spaniards'; 
own  lips,  that  they  would  like  to  root  us  out,  exterminate  i 
us.  If  I^could  only  do  as  I  pleased,  and  were  it  not  forj 
my  father,  I  know  what  I  would  do.  My  head  is  so^ 
confused.  The  burgomaster's  speech  is  driving  me  out  j 
of  my  wits.    Tell  him,  Junker,  I  beseech  you,  tell  him  I  j 


THE    burgomaster's    WIFE.  267 

hate  the  Spaniards  and  it  would  be  my  pride  to  be  a 
Netherlander." 

Both  had  continued  their  walk,  and  as  they  ap- 
proached the  burgomaster's  house,  the  captain,  who  had 
listened  to  the  youth  with  joyful  surprise,  said  : 

''  You're  cut  from  good  timber,  Junker,  and  on  the 
way  to  the  right  goal.  Only  keep  Herr  Peter's  speech 
in  your  mind,  and  remember  what  you  have  learned  in 
history.  To  whom  belong  the  shining  purple  pages  in 
the  great  book  of  national  history?  To  the  tyrants, 
their  slaves  and  eye-servants,  or  the  men  who  lived  and 
died  for  Hberty  ?  Hold  up  your  head.  This  conflict 
will  perhaps  outlast  both  our  lives,  and  you  still  have  a 
long  time  to  put  yourself  on  the  right  side.  The  noble- 
man must  serve  his  Prince,  but  he  need  be  no  slave  of 
a  ruler,  least  of  all  a  foreigner,  an  enemy  of  his  nation. 
Here  we  are;  I'll  come  for  you  again  in  an  hour.  Give 
me  your  hand.  I  should  like  to  call  you  by  your 
Christian  name  in  future,  my  brave  Nico." 

^'  Call  me  so,"  exclaimed  the  youth,  "  and — you'll 
send  no  one  else?  I  should  like  to  talk  with  you 
again." 

The  Junker  was  received  in  the  burgomaster's  house 
by  Barbara.  Henrica  could  not  see  him  immediately, 
Father  Damianus  was  with  her,  so  he  was  obliged  to 
wait  in  the  dining-room  until  the  priest  appeared. 
Nicolas  knew  him  well,  and  had  even  confessed  to  him 
once  the  year  before.  After  greeting  the  estimable  man 
and  answering  his  inquiry  how  he  had  come  there,  he 
said  frankly  and  hastily  : 

*'  Forgive  me.  Father,  but  something  weighs  upon 
my  heart.  You  are  a  holy  man,  and  must  know\  Is  it 
a  crime,  if  a  Hollander  fights  against  the  Spaniards,  is  it 


268  THE    burgomaster's    WIFE.  f 

a  sin,  if  a  Hollander  wishes  to  be  and  remain  what  God 
made  him  ?     I  can't  believe  it." 

"  Nor  do  I,"  replied  Damianus  in  his  simple  manner. 
^*  Whoever  clings  firmly  to  our  holy  church,  whoever 
loves  his  neighbor  and  strives  to  do  right,  may  con- « 
fidently  favor  the  Dutch,  and  pray  and  fight  for  thei 
fi*eedom  of  his  native  land."  '] 

"  Ah  !"  exclaimed  Nicolas,  with  sparkling  eyes.  ] 

"  For,"  continued  Damianus  more  eagerly,  "  for  you  j 
see,  before  the  Spaniards  came  into  the  country,  they  1 
were  good  Catholics  here  and  led  devout  lives,  pleasing  in  \ 
the  sight  of  God.  Why  should  it  not  be  so  again  ?  The  ] 
most  High  has  separated  men  into  nations,  because  He  \ 
wills,  that  tliey  should  lead  their  own  lives  and  shape  them  ; 
for  their  salvation  and  His  honor;  but  not  to  give  the  ; 
stronger  nation  the  right  to  torture  and  oppress  another.  .' 
Suppose  your  father  went  out  to  walk  and  a  Spanish  i 
grandee  should  jump  on  his  shoulders  and  make  him  \ 
taste  whip  and  spur,  as  if  he  were  a  horse.  It  would  be  \ 
bad  for  the  Castilian.  Now  substitute  Holland  for  Herr  • 
Matanesse,  and  Spain  for  the  grandee,  and  you  will  ' 
know  wliat  I  mean.  There  is  nothing  left  for  us  to  do,  j 
except  cast  off  the  oppressor.  Our  holy  church  will  I 
sustain  no  loss.  God  appointed  it,  and  it  will  stand  j 
whether  King  Philip  or  another  rules.  Now  you  know  \ 
my  opinion.  Do  I  err  or  not,  in  thinking  that  the  ; 
name  of  GHpper  no  longer  pleases  you,  dear  Junker  ?  " 

"No,  Father  Damianus!  —  You  are  right,  a  thous-  ; 
and  times  right.     It  is  no  sin,  to  desire  a  free  Holland."  ; 
"  Who  told  you  it  was  one  ?"  i 

"  Canon  Bermont  and  our  chaplain."  ' 

"  Then  we  are  of  a  different  opinion  concerning  this  ] 
temporal   matter.     Give  to   God  the   things   that   are  ] 


THE    burgomaster's    WIFE.  269 

I  God's,  and  remain  where  the  Lord  placed  you.  When 
your  beard  grows,  if  you  wish  to  fight  for  the  hberty  of 
Holland,  do  so  confidently.  That  is  a  sin  for  which  I 
will  gladly  grant  you  absolution." 

Henrica  was  greatly  delighted  to  see  the  fresh,  happy- 
looking  youth  again.     Nicolas  was  obliged  to  tell  her 
about  her  father  and  his,  and  inform  her  how  he  had 
come  to  Leyden.     When  she  heard  that  he  intended  to 
!  return  in  an  hour,  a  bright  idea  entered  her  mind,  which 
was  wholly  engrossed  by  Belotti's  mission.     She  told 
I  Nicolas  what  she  meant  to  do,  and  begged  him  to  take 
'  the  steward  through  the  Spanish  army  to  the  Hague. 
The  Junker  was  not  only  ready  to  fulfil  her  request,  but 
promised  that,-  if  the  old  man   wanted  to  return,  he 
would  apprize  her  of  it  in  some  way. 

At  the  end  of  an  hour  she  bade  the  boy  farewell, 
and  when  again  walking  towards  the  Achtergracht  with 
Herr  von  Warmond,  he  asked  joyously : 

"  How  shall  I  get  to  the  Beggars  ?  " 

^'  You  ?  "  asked  the  captain  in  astonishment. 

"  Yes,  I !"  replied  the  Junker  eagerly.  " I  shall  soon 
be  seventeen,  and  when  I  am — Wait,  just  wait — you'll 
hear  of  me  yet." 

"  Right,  Nicolas,  right,"  replied  the  other.  *'  Let  us 
be  Holland  nobles  and  noble  Hollanders." 

Three  hours  later.  Junker  Matanesse  Van  Wibisma 
rode  into  the  Hague  with  Belotti,  whom  he  had  loved 
from  childhood.  He  brought  his  father  nothing  but  a 
carefully-folded  and  sealed  letter,  which  Janus  Dousa, 
with  a  mischievous  smile,  had  given  him  on  behalf  of 
the  citizens  of  Leyden  for  General  Valdez,  and  which 
contained,  daintily  inscribed  on  a  large  sheet,  the  follow- 
ing hues  from  Dionysius  Cato : 


270  THE    burgomaster's    WIFE. 

"  Fistula  duke  canit  vohiarm  dum  decipit  auceps.^^ 
"  Sweet  are  the  notes  of  the  flute,  when  the  fowler  - 
lures  the  bird  to  his  nest." 


CHAPTER  XXVII.  \ 

The  first  week  in  June  and  half  the  second  had.i 
passed,  the  beautiful  sunny  days  had  drawn  to  a  close,  ] 
and  numerous  guests  sought  the  "Angulus"  in  Aquanus's  ! 
tavern  during  the  evening  hours.  It  was  so  cosy  there  \ 
when  the  sea-breeze  whistled,  the  rain  poured,  and  the  \ 
water  fell  plashing  on  the  pavements.  The  Spanish  be-  \ 
sieging  army  encompassed  the  city  hke  an  iron  wall,  j 
Each  individual  felt  that  he  was  a  fellow-prisoner  of  his  I 
neighbor,  and  drew  closer  to  companions  of  his  own  ; 
rank  and  opinions.  Business  was  stagnant,  idleness  and  ; 
anxiety  weighed  like  lead  on  the  minds  of  all,  and  who-  | 
ever  wished  to  make  time  pass  rapidly  and  relieve  his  | 
oppressed  soul,  went  to  the  tavern  to  give  utterance  to  \ 
his  own  hopes  and  fears,  and  hear  what  others  were  , 
thinking  and  feeling  in  the  common  distress.  i 

All  the  tables  in  the  Angulus  were  occupied,  and  ■ 
whoever  wanted  to  be  understood  by  a  distant  neighbor  \ 
was  forced  to  raise  his  voice  very  loud,  for  special  con-  ; 
versations  were  being  carried  on  at  every  table.  Here,  i 
there,  and  everywhere,  people  were  shouting  to  the  busy  ] 
bar-maid,  glasses  clinked  together,  and  pewter  lids  fell  j 
on  the  tops  of  hard  stone-ware  jugs. 

The  talk  at  a  round  table  in  the  end  of  the  long  ! 
room  was  louder  than  anywhere  else.  Six  officers  had  i 
seated  themselves  at  it,  among  them  Georg  von  Dorn-  \ 


THE    burgomaster's    WIFE.  27 1 

burg.  Captain  Van  der  Laen,  his  superior  officer,  whose 
past  career  had  been  a  truly  heroic  one,  was  loudly  re- 
lating in  his  deep  voice,  strange  and  amusing  tales  of 
his  travels  by  sea  and  land,  Colonel  Mulder  often  inter- 
rupted him,  and  at  every  somewhat  incredible  story, 
smilingly  told  a  similar,  but  perfectly  impossible  adven- 
ture of  his  own.  Captain  Van  Duivenvoorde  soothingly 
interposed,  when  Van  der  Laen,  who  was  conscious  of 
never  deviating  far  from  the  truth,  angrily  repelled  the 
old  man's  jesting  insinuations.  Captain  Cromwell,  a 
grave  man  with  a  round  head  and  smooth  long  hair, 
who  had  come  to  Holland  to  fight  for  the  faith,  rarely 
mingled  in  the  conversation,  and  then  only  with  a  few 
words  of  scarcely  intelligible  Dutch.  Georg,  leaning 
far  back  in  his  chair,  stretched  his  feet  out  before  him 
and  stared  silently  into  vacancy. 

Herr  Aquanus,  the  host,  walked  from  one  table  to 
another,  and  when  he  at  last  reached  the  one  where 
the  officers  sat,  paused  opposite  to  the  Thuringian, 
saying : 

"  Where  are  your  thoughts.  Junker  ?  One  would 
scarcely  know  you  during  the  last  few  days.  What 
has  come  over  you  ?" 

Georg  hastily  sat  erect,  stretched  himself  like  a 
person  roused  from  sleep,  and  answered  pleasantly  : 

*^  Dreams  come  in  idleness." 

"  The  cage  is  getting  too  narrow  for  him,"  said  Cap- 
tain Van  der  Laen.  *'  If  this  state  of  things  lasts  long, 
we  shall  all  get  dizzy  like  the  sheep." 

"  And  as  stiff  as  the  brazen  Pagan  god  on  the  shelf 
yonder,"  added  Colonel  Mulder. 

"  There  was  the  same  complaint  during  the  first 
siege,"  replied  the  host,  "  but  Herr  von  Noyelles  drowned 


272  THE    burgomaster's    WIFE.  | 

his  discontent  and  emptied  many  a  cask  of  my  best^ 
liquor."  j 

"Tell  the  gentlemen  how  he  paid  you,"  criedJ 
Colonel  Mulder.  I 

"  There  hangs  the  paper  framed,"  laughed  Aquanus.  ] 
"  Instead  of  sending  money,  he  wrote  this : 

'  Full  many  a  favor,  dear  friend,  hast  th®u  done  me,  ' 

For  which  good  hard  coin  glad  vvouldst  thou  be  to  see  \ 

There's  none  in  my  pockets ;  so  for  the  debt  1 

In  place  of  dirty  coin,  ; 

This  written  sheet  so  fine  ;  j 

Paper  money  in  Leyden  is  easy  to  get.'  "  ] 

J 

"  Excellent ! "  cried  Junker  von  AVarmond,  "  and  I 
besides  you  made  the  die  for  the  pasteboard  coins  ; 
yourself"  j 

"  Of  course!  Herr  von  Noyelles'  sitting  still,  cost  me  \ 
dear.     You  have  already  made  two  expeditions." 

"  Hush,  hush,  for  God's  sake  say  nothing  about  the  ^ 
first  sally  !  "  cried  the  captain.     "  A  well-planned  enter- 
prise,   which   was   shamefully    frustrated,    because    the  ' 
leader  lay  down  like  a  mole  to  sleep  !     Where  has  such  i 
a  thing  happened  a  second  time  ?  "  | 

"  But  the  other  ended  more  fortunately,"  said  the  | 
host.  "Three  hundred  hams,  one  hundred  casks  of  ■ 
beer,  butter,  ammunition,  and  the  most  worthless  of  all  ■ 
spies  into  the  bargain  ;  always  an  excellent  prize."  : 

"  And  yet  a  failure  ! "  cried  Captain  Van  der  Laen^  : 
"  We  ought  to  have  captured  and  brought  in  all  the  pro-  : 
vision  ships  on  the  Leyden  Lake !  And  the  Kaag !  To  \ 
think  that  this  fort  on  the  island  should  be  in  the  hands  i 
of  the  enemy."  ^ 

"  Bui  the  people  have  held  out  bravely,''  said  von  | 
Warmond.  '{ 


THE    BURGOMASTER  S   WIFE.  273 

*'  There  are  real  devils  among  them,"  replied  Van  der 
Laen,  laughing.  ''  One  struck  a  Spaniard  down  and, 
in  the  midst  of  the  batde,  took  off  his  red  breeches  and 
pulled  them  on  his  own  legs." 

"  I  know  the  man,"  added  the  landlord,  **  his  name 
is  Van  Keulen;  there  he  sits  yonder  over  his  beer, 
telling  the  people  all  sorts  of  queer  stories.  A  fellow 
with  a  face  like  a  satyr.  We  have  no  lack  of  comfort 
yet!  Remember  Chevraux'  defeat,  and  the  Beggars* 
victory  at  Vlissingen  on  the  Scheldt." 

''  To  brave  Admiral  Boisot  and  the  gallant  Beggar 
troops ! "  cried  Captain  Van  der  Laen,  touching  glasses 
with  Colonel  Mulder.  The  latter  turned  with  upraised 
beaker  towards  the  Thuringian  and,  as  the  Junker  who 
had  relapsed  into  his  reverie,  did  not  notice  the  move- 
ment, irritably  exclaimed : 

"  Well,  Herr  Dornburg,  you  require  a  long  time  to 
pledge  a  man." 

Georg  started  and  answered  hastily : 

"Pledge?  Oh  !  yes.  Pledge.  I  pledge  you, Colonel!" 
With  these  words  he  raised  the  goblet,  drained  it  at 
a  single  draught,  made  the  nail  test  and  replaced  it  on 
the  table. 

"  Well  done ! "  cried  the  old  man  ;  and  Herr  Aquanus 
said : 

"  He  learned  that  at  the  University;  studying  makes 
people  thirsty." 

As  he  uttered  the  words,  he  cast  a  friendly  glance  of 
anxiety  at  the  young  German,  and  then  looked  towards 
the  door,  through  which  Wilhelm  had  just  entered  the 
Angulus.  The  landlord  went  to  meet  him  and  whis- 
pered : 

"  I  don't  hke  the  German  nobleman's  appearance. 
18 


I 

274  THE    burgomaster's    WIFE,  \ 

The  singing  lark  has  become  a  mousing  night-bird.  ' 
What  ails  him  ?"  \ 

"  Home-sickness,  no  news  from  his  family,  and  the  : 
snare  into  which  the  war  has  drawn  him  in  his  pursuit  ] 
of  glory  and  honor.  He'll  soon  be  his  old  self  \ 
again."  \ 

■  ^'  I  hope  so,"  replied  the  host.  "  Such  a  succulent  ; 
little  tree  will  quickly  rebound,  when  it  is  pressed  to  the  ; 
earth ;  help  the  fine  young  fellow."  i 

A  guest  summoned  the  landlord,  but  the  musician  ' 
joined  the  officers  and  began  a  low  conversation  with  \ 
Georg,  which  was  drowned  by  the  confused  mingling  of  i 
loud  voices.  ^ 

Wilhelm  came  from  the  Van  der  Werff  house,  where  ; 
he  had  learned  that  the  next  day  but  one,  June  j 
fourteenth,  would  be  the  burgomaster's  birthday,  i 
Adrian  had  told  Henrica,  and  the  latter  informed  him.  \ 
The  master  of  the  house  was  to  be  surprised  with  a  song  j 
on  the  morning  of  his  birthday  festival.  \ 

"  Excellent,"  said  Georg,  interrupting  his  friend,  i 
"  she  will  manage  the  matter  admirably."  ; 

"  Not  she  alone ;  we  can  depend  upon  Frau  Van  i 
der  Werff  too.  At  first  she  wanted  to  decline,  but  when'i 
I  proposed  a  pretty  madrigal,  yielded  and  took  the  - 
soprano."  i 

"  The  soprano  ?"  asked  the  Junker  excitedly.  "  Of  | 
course  I'm  at  your  service.  Let  us  go;  have  you  the  ! 
notes  at  home  ?" 

"No,  Herr  von  Dornburg,  I  have  just  taken  them  ; 
to  the  ladies  ;  but  early  to-morrow  morning — "  : 

"  There  will  be  a  rehearsal  early  to-morrow  morn-  ; 
ing  !  The  jug  is  for  me,  Jungfer  Dortchen!  Your  • 
health.  Colonel   Mulder  !       Captain    Duivenvoorde,  I  ^ 

,  I 


THE    BURGOMASTERS    WIFE.  275 

drain  this  goblet  to  your  new  standard  and  hope  to  have 
many  a  jolly  ride  by  your  side." 

The  German's  eyes  again  sparkled  with  an  eager 
light,  and  when  Captain  Van  der  Laen,  continuing  his 
conversation,  cried  enthusiastically :  "  The  Beggars  of 
the  Sea  will  yet  sink  the  Spanish  power.  The  sea, 
gentlemen,  the  sea !  To  base  one's  cause  on  nothing,  is 
the  best  way !  To  exult,  leap  and  grapple  in  the  storm » 
To  fight  and  struggle  man  to  man  and  breast  to  breast 
on  the  deck  of  the  enemy's  ship  !  To  fight  and  conquer, 
or  perish  with  the  foe !" 

"  To  your  health.  Junker !"  exclaimed  the  colonel. 
^'  Zounds,  we  need  such  youths  !" 

*'  Now  you  are  your  old  self  again,"  said  Wilhelm, 
turning  to  his  friend.  "  Touch  glasses  to  your  dear  ones 
at  home."  s 

"  Two  glasses  for  one,"  cried  Georg,  "  To  the  dear 
ones  at  home — to  the  joys  and  sorrows  of  the  heart,  to 
the  fair  woman  we  love  !  War  is  rapture,  love  is  life  ! 
Let  the  wounds  bleed,  let  the  heart  break  into  a  thous- 
and pieces.  Laurels  grow  green  on  the  battle-field,  love 
twines  garlands  of  roses — roses  with  thorns,  yet  beauti- 
ful roses !  Go,  beaker !  No  other  lips  shall  drink  from 
you." 

Georg's  cheeks  glowed  as  he  flung  the  glass  goblet 
into  a  corner  of  the  room,  where  it  shattered  into  frag- 
ments. His  comrades  at  the  table  cheered  loudly,  but 
Captain  Cromwell  rose  quietly  to  leave  the  room,  and 
the  landlord  shook  his  wise  head  doubtfully. 

It  seemed  as  if  fire  had  poured  into  Georg's  soul  and 

his  spirit  had  gained  wings.      The  thick  waving  locks 

curled  in  dishevelled  masses  around  his  handsome  head, 

as  leaning  far  back  in  his  chair  with  unfastened  collar, 

18  * 


276  THE    burgomaster's    WIFE. 

he  mingled  clever  sallies  and  brilliant  similes  with  the 
quiet  conversation  of  the  others.  Wilhelm  listened  to 
his  words  sometimes  with  admiration,  sometimes  with 
anxiety.  It  was  long  past  midnight,  when  the  musician 
left  the  tavern  with  his  friend.  Colonel  Mulder  looked 
after  him  and  exclaimed  to  those  left  behind : 
*^  The  fellow  is  possessed  with  a  devil." 
The  next  morning  the  madrigal  was  practised  at  the 
burgomaster's  house,  while  its  master  was  presiding  over 
a  meeting  at  the  town-hall.  Georg  stood  between  Hen- 
rica  and  Maria.  So  long  as  the  musician  found  it  neces- 
sary to  correct  errors  and  order  repetitions,  a  cheerful 
mood  pervaded  the  little  choir,  and  Barbara,  in  the  ad- 
joining room,  often  heard  the  sound  of  innocent  laugh- 
ter; but  when  each  had  mastered  his  or  her  part  and 
the  madrigal  was  faultlessly  executed,  the  ladies  grew 
more  and  more  grave.  Maria  gazed  fixedly  at  the  sheet 
of  music,  and  rarely  had  her  voice  sounded  so  faultlessly 
pure,  so  full  of  feeling.  Georg  adapted  his  singing  to 
hers  and  his  eyes,  whenever  they  were  raised  from  the 
notes,  rested  on  her  face.  Henrica  sought  to  meet  the 
Junker's  glance,  but  always  in  vain,  yet  she  wished  to 
divert  his  attention  from  the  young  wife,  and  it  tortured 
her  to  remain  unnoticed.  Some  impulse  urged  her  to 
surpass  Maria,  and  the  whole  passionate  wealth  of  her 
nature  rang  out  in  her  singing.  Her  fervor  swept  the 
others  along.  Maria's  treble  rose  exultantly  above  the 
German's  musical  voice,  and  Henrica's  tones  blended 
angrily  yet  triumphantly  in  the  strain.  The  delighted 
and  inspired  musician  beat  the  time  and,  borne  away  by 
the  liquid  melody  of  Henrica's  voice,  revelled  in  sweet 
recollections  of  her  sister. 

When  the  serenade  was  finished,  he  eagerly  cried : 


THE    BURGOMASTERS    WIFE.  277 

*'  Again  !"  The  rivalry  between  the  singers  commenced 
with  fresh  vigor,  and  this  time  the  Junker's  beaming  gaze 
met  the  young  wife's  eyes.  She  hastily  lowered  the 
notes,  stepped  out  of  the  semicircle,  and  said : 

"  We  know  the  madrigal.  Early  to-morrow  morning, 
Meister  Wilhelm;  my  time  is  Hmited." 

''  Oh,  oh  !"  cried  the  musician  regretfully.  "  It  was 
going  on  so  splendidly,  and  there  were  only  a  few  bars 
more."  But  Maria  was  already  standing  at  the  door 
and  made  no  reply,  except : 

"  To-morrow." 

The  musician  enthusiastically  thanked  Henrica  for 
her  singing ;  Georg  courteously  expressed  his  gratitude. 
When  both  had  taken  leave,  Henrica  paced  rapidly  to 
and  fro,  passionately  striking  her  clenched  fist  in  the 
palm  of  her  other  hand. 

The  singers  were  ready  early  on  the  birthday  morn- 
ing, but  Peter  had  risen  before  sunrise,  for  there  was  a 
proposition  to  be  arranged  with  the  city  clerk,  which 
must  be  completed  before  the  meeting  of  the  council. 
Nothing  was  farther  from  his  thoughts  than  his  birthday, 
and  when  the  singers  in  the  dining-room  commenced 
their  madrigal,  he  rapped  on  the  door,  exclaiming : 

"  We  are  busy ,  find  another  place  for  your  singing." 

The  melody  was  interrupted  for  a  moment,  and  Bar- 
bara said  : 

*'  People  picking  apples  don't  think  of  fishing-nets. 
He  has  no  idea  it  is  his  birthday.  Let  the  children  go 
in  first." 

Maria  now  entered  the  study  with  Adrian  and 
Bessie.  They  carried  bouquets  in  their  hands,  and  the 
young  wife  had  dressed  the  little  girl  so  prettily  that,  in 
her  white  frock,  she  really  looked  like  a  dainty  fairy. 


278  THE    burgomaster's    WIFE. 

Peter  now  knew  the  meaning  of  the  singing, 
warmly  embraced  the  three  well-wishers,  and  when 
the  madrigal  began  again,  stood  opposite  to  the  per- 
formers to  listen.  True,  the  execution  was  not  nearly 
so  good  as  at  the  rehearsal,  for  Maria  sang  Jn  a  low 
and  somewhat  muffled  voice,  while,  spite  of  \Vilhelm's 
vehement  beating  of  time,  the  warmth  and  verve  of  the 
day  before  would  not  return. 

"  Admirable,  admirable,"  cried  Peter,  when  the 
singers  ceased.  "  Well  planned  and  executed,  a  beautiful 
birthday  surprise."  Then  he  shook  hands  with  each,, 
saying  a  few  cordial  words  and,  as  he  grasped  the 
Junker's  right  hand,  remarked  warmly:  *' You  have 
dropped  down  on  us  from  the  skies  during  these  bad 
days,  just,  at  the  right  time.  It  is  always  something  ta 
have  a  home  in  a  foreign  land,  and  you  have  found  one 
with  us." 

Georg  had  bent  his  eyes  on  the  floor,  but  at  the 
last  words  raised  them  and  met  the  burgomaster's. 
How  honestly,  how  kindly  and  frankly  they  looked  at 
him !  Deep  emotion  overpowered  him,  and  without 
knowing  what  he  was  doing,  he  laid  his  hands  on 
Peter's  arms  and  hid  his  face  on  his  shoulder. 

Van  der  Werff  suffered  him  to  do  so,  stroked  the 
youth's  hair,  and  said  smiling : 

"  Like  Leonhard,  wife,  just  like  our  Leonhard.  We 
will  dine  together  to-day.  You,  too.  Van  Hout;  and 
don't  forget  your  wife." 

Maria  assigned  the  seats  at  the  table,  so  that  she 
was  not  obHged  to  look  at  Georg.  His  place  was 
beside  Frau  Van  Hout  and  opposite  Henrica  and  the 
musician.  At  first  he  was  silent  and  embarrassed,  but 
Henrica  gave  him  no  rest,  and  when  he  had  once  begun 


THE    burgomaster's    WIFE.  279 

to  answer  her  questions  he  was  soon  carried  away  by  her 
glowing  vivacity,  and  gave  free,  joyous  play  to  his  wit. 
Henrica  did  not  remain  in  his  debt,  her  eyes  sparkled, 
and  in  the  increasing  pleasure  of  trying  the  power  of 
her  intellect  against  his,  she  sought  to  surpass  every  jest 
and  repartee  made  by  the  Junker.  She  drank  no  wine, 
but  was  intoxicated  by  her  own  flow  of  language  and 
so  completely  engrossed  Georg's  attention,  that  he  found 
no  time  to  address  a  word  to  the  other  guests.  If  he 
attempted  to  do  so,  she  quickly  interrupted  him  and 
compelled  him  to  turn  to  her  again.  This  constraint 
annoyed  the  young  man ;  while  struggling  against  it  his 
spirit  of  wantonness  awoke,  and  he  began  to  irritate 
Henrica  into  making  unprecedented  assertions,  which  he 
opposed  with  equally  unwarrantable  ones  of  his  own. 

Maria  sometimes  listened  to  the  young  lady  in  sur- 
prise, and  there  was  something  in  Georg's  manner  that 
vexed  her.  Peter  took  little  notice  of  Henrica;  he  was 
talking  with  Van  Hout  about  the  letters  from  the  Glip- 
pers  asking  a  surrender,  three  of  which  had  already  been 
brought  into  the  city,  of  the  uncertain  disposition  of 
some  members  of  the  council  and  the  execution  of  the 
captured  spy. 

Wilhelm,  who  had  scarcely  vouchsafed  his  neighbor 
an  answer,  was  now  following  the  conversation  of  the 
older  men  and  remarked,  that  he  had  known  the  traitor. 
He  was  a  tavern-keeper,  in  whose  inn  he  had  once  met 
Herr  Matanesse  Van  Wibisma. 

"  There  we  have  it,"  said  Van  Hout.  "  A  note  was 
found  in  Quatgelat's  pouch,  and  the  writing  bore  a  mys- 
terious resemblance  to  the  baron's  hand.  Quatgelat  was 
to  enquire  about  the  quantity  of  provisions  in  Ley  den." 

"  All  alike!"  exclaimed  the  burgomaster.     "  Unhap- 


28o  THE    burgomaster's    WIFE. 

pily  he  could  have  brought  tidings  only  too  welcome  to 
Valdez.  Little  that  is  cheering  has  resulted  from  the  in- 
vestigation ;  though  the  exact  amount  has  not  yet  been 
ascertained." 

"  We  must  place  it  during  the  next  few  days  in 
charge  of  the  ladies." 

"  Give  it  to  the  women  ?"  asked  Peter  in  astonish- 
ment. 

"  Yes,  to  us  !"  cried  Van  Hout's  wife.  "  Why  should 
we  sit  idle,  when  we  might  be  of  use." 

*'  Give  us  the  work !"  exclaimed  Maria.  "  We 
are  as  eager  as  you,  to  render  the  great  cause  some 
service." 

"  An-d  believe  me,"  added  Frau  Van  Hout,  "  we 
shall  find  admittance  to  store-rooms  and  cellars  much 
more  quickly  than  constables  and  guards,  whom  the 
housewives  fear." 

"  Women  in  the  service  of  the  city,"  said  Peter 
thoughtfully.  "  To  be  honest — but  your  proposal  shall 
be  considered. — The  young  lady  is  in  good  spirits  to- 
day." 

Maria  glanced  indignantly  at  Henrica,  who  had 
leaned  far  across  the  table;  She  was  showing  Georg  a 
ring,  and  laughingly  exclaimed  : 

*'  Don't  you  wish  to  know  what  the  device  means  ? 
Look,  a  serpent  biting  its  own  tail." 

'*  Aha !"  replied  the  Junker,  "  the  symbol  of  self- 
torment." 

"  Good,  good  !  But  it  has  another  meaning,  which 
you  would  do  well  to  notice.  Sir  Knight.  Do  you  know 
the  signification  of  eternity  and  eternal  faith  ?" 

''  No,  Fraulein,  1  wasn't  taught  to  think  so  deeply  at 
Jena." 


THE    burgomaster's    WIFE.  28 1 

"  Of  course.  Your  teachers  were  men.  Men  and 
faith,  eternal  faith  I" 

"  Was  DeHlah,  who  betrayed  Samson  to  the  PhiHs- 
tines,  a  man  or  a  woman  ?"  asked  Van  Hout. 

"  She  was  a  woman.  The  exception,  that  proves 
the  rule.     Isn't  that  so,  Maria  ?" 

The  burgomaster's  wife  made  no  reply  except  a  silent 
nod ;  then  indignantly  pushed  back  her  chair,  and  the 
meal  was  over. 


CHAPTER    XXVIIL 

Days  and  weeks  had  passed,  July  was  followed  by 
a  sultry  xA.ugust,  and  that,  too,  was  drawing  to  a  close. 
The  Spaniards  still  surrounded  Ley  den,  and  the  city 
now  completely  resembled  a  prison.  The  soldiers  and 
armed  citizens  did  their  duty  wearily  and  sullenly, 
there  was  business  enough  at  the  town -hall,  but  the 
magistrates'  work  was  sad  and  disagreeable ;  for  no 
message  of  hope  came  from  the  Prince  or  the  Estates, 
and  everything  to  be  considered  referred  to  the  increas- 
ing distress  and  the  terrible  follower  of  war,  the  plague, 
which  had  made  its  entry  into  Leyden  with  the  famine. 
Moreover  the  number  of  malcontents  weekly  increased. 
The  friends  of  the  old  order  of  affairs  now  raised  their 
voices  more  and  more  loudly,  and  many  a  friend  of 
liberty,  who  saw  his  family  sickening,  joined  the  Spanish 
sympathizers  and  demanded  the  surrender  of  the  city. 
The  children  went  to  school  and  met  in  the  play- 
grounds as  before,  but  there  was  rarely  a  flash  of  the 


282  THE    burgomaster's    WIFE. 

merry  pertness  of  former  days,  and  what  had  become 
of  the  boys'  red  cheeks  and  the  round  arms  of  the  little 
girls  ?  The  poor  drew  their  belts  tighter,  and  the  morsel 
of  bread,  distributed  by  the  city  to  each  individual,  was 
no  longer  enough  to  quiet  hunger  and  support  life. 

Junker  Georg  had  long  been  living  in  Burgomaster 
Van  der  Werff s  house. 

On  the  morning  of  August  29th  he  returned  home 
from  an  expedition,  carrying  a  cross-bow  in  his  hand, 
while  a  pouch  hung  over  his  shoulder.  This  time  he 
did  not  go  up-stairs,  but  sought  Barbara  in  the  kitchen. 
The  widow  received  him  with  a  friendly  nod;  her  grey 
eyes  sparkled  as  brightly  as  ever,  but  her  round  face 
had  grown  narrower  and  there  was  a  sorrowful  quiver 
about  the  sunken  mouth. 

''What  do  you  bring  to-day?"  she  asked  the  Junker. 

Georg  thrust  his  hand  into  his  game-bag  and  an- 
swered, smiling:  ''A  fat  snipe  and  four  larks;  you 
know." 

"  Poor  sparrows !  But  what  sort  of  a  creature  can 
this  be  ?  Headless,  legless,  and  carefully  plucked ! 
Junker,  Junker,  that's  suspicious." 

"  It  will  do  for  the  pan,  and  the  name  is  of  no  con- 
sequence." 

"  Yet,  yet ;  true,  nobody  knows  on  what  he  fattens, 
but  the  Lord  didn't  create  every  animal  for  the  human 
stomach." 

"  That's  just  what  I  said.  It's  a  short-billed  snipe,  a 
corvus,  a  real  corvus." 

"  Corvus !  Nonsense,  I'm  afraid  of  the  thing — the 
little  feathers  under  the  wings.  Good  heavens !  surely 
it  isn't  a  raven  ?" 

"  It's  a  corvus,  as  I  said.     Put  the  bird  in  vinegar, 


THE    burgomaster's    WIFE.  283 

roast  it  with  seasoning  and  it  will  taste  like  a  real  snipe. 
Wild  ducks  are  not  to  be  found  every  day,  as  they  were 
a  short  time  ago,  and  sparrows  are  getting  as  scarce  as 
roses  in  winter.  Every  boy  is  standing  about  with 
a  cross-bow,  and  in  the  court-yards  people  are  trying  to 
catch  them  under  sieves  and  with  lime-twigs.  They 
are  going  to  be  exterminated,  but  one  or  another  is  still 
spared.     How  is  the  little  elf?" 

^'  Don't  call  her  that !"  exclaimed  the  widow.  "Give 
her  her  Christian  name.  She  looks  like  this  cloth,  and 
since  yesterday  has  refused  to  take  the  milk  we  daily 
procure  for  her  at  a  heavy  cost.  Heaven  knows  what 
the  end  will  be.  Look  at  that  cabbage-stalk.  Half  a 
stiver !  and  that  miserable  piece  of  bone !  Once  I 
should  have  thought  it  too  poor  for  the  dogs — and 
now!  The  whole  household  must  be  satisfied  with  it. 
For  supper  I  shall  boil  ham -rind  with  wine  and  add  a 
little  porridge  to  it.  And  this  for  a  giant  like  Peter ! 
God  only  knows  where  he  gets  his  strength;  but  he 
looks  like  his  own  shadow.  Maria  doesn't  need  anything 
more  than  a  bird,  but  Adrian,  poor  fellow,  often  leaves 
the  table  with  tears  in  his  eyes,  yet  I  know  he  has 
broken  many  a  bit  of  bread  from  his  thin  slice  for 
Bessie.  It  is  pitiable.  Yet  the  proverb  says :  '  Stretch 
yourself  towards  the  ceiling,  or  your  feet  will  freeze — ' 
'  Necessity  knows  no  law,'  and  '  Reserve  to  preserve.' 
Day  before  yesterday,  like  the  rest,  we  again  gave  of  the 
little  we  still  possessed.  To-morrow,  everything  beyond 
what  is  needed  for  the  next  fortnight,  must  be  deliv- 
ered up,  and  Peter  won't  allow  us  to  keep  even  a  bag 
of  flour,  but  what  will  come  then — merciful  Heaven ! — '* 

The  widow  sobbed  aloud  as  she  uttered  the  last 
words  and  continued,  weeping  :     *^  Where  do  you  get 


284  THE    burgomaster's    WIFE.  j 

your  strength  ?     At  your  age  this  miserable  scrap  of  i 
meat  is  a  mere  drop  of  water  on  a  red-hot  stone."  * 

''  Herr  Van  Aken  gives  me  what  he  can,  in  addi-  j 
tion  to  my  ration.  I  shall  get  through  ;  but  I  witnessed  | 
a  terrible  sight  to-day  at  the  tailor's,  who  mends  ray  1 
clothes."  i 

"  Well  ?"  j 

**  Two  of  his  children  have  starved  to  death."  ; 

"  And  the  weaver's  family  opposite,"  added  Barbara,  \ 
weeping.  "  Such  nice  people !  The  young  wife  was  1 
confined  four  days  ago,  and  this  morning  mother  and  i 
child  expired  of  weakness,  expired,  I  tell  you,  like  a  i 
lamp  that  has  consumed  its  oil  and  must  go  out.  At ; 
the  cloth-maker  Peterssohn's,  the  father  and  all  five ' 
children  have  died  of  the  plague.     If  that  isn't  pitiful!"  j 

"  Stop,  stop!"  said  Georg,  shuddering.  "  I  must  goj 
to  the  court-yard  to  drill."  , 

"  What's  the  use  of  that !  The  Spaniards  don't  \ 
attack ;  they  leave  the  work  to  the  skeleton  death.  \ 
Your  fencing  gives  an  appetite,  and  the  poor  hollow  j 
herrings  can  scarcely  stir  their  own  hmbs."  ; 

*'  Wrong,  Frau  Barbara,  wrong,"  rephed  the   young  \ 
man.     "  The  exercise  and  motion  sustains  them.     Herr 
von  Nordwyk  knew  what  he  was  doing,  when  he  asked 
me  to  drill  them  in  the  dead  fencing-master's  place." 

"  You're  thinking  of  the  ploughshare  that  doesn't  ■ 
rust.  Perhaps  you  are  right;  but  before  you  go  to  work,  \ 
take  a  sip  of  this.  Our  wine  is  still  the  best.  When  \ 
people  have  something  to  do,  at  least  they  don't  mutiny,  ! 
like  those  poor  fellows  among  the  volunteers  day  before  i 
yesterday.     Thank  God,  they  are  gone !" 

While  the  widow  was  filling  a  glass,  Wilhelm's  mother  ■ 
came  into  the  kitchen  and  greeted   Barbara   and   the  i 


THE    burgomaster's    WIFE.  285. 

young  nobleman.  She  carried  under  her  shawl  a  small 
package  clasped  tightly  to  her  bosom.  Her  breadth 
was  still  considerable,  but  the  flesh,  with  which  she  had 
moved  about  so  briskly  a  few  months  ago,  now  seemed 
to  have  become  an  oppressive  burden. 

She  took  the  litde  bundle  in  her  right  hand,  saying : 

"  I  have  something  for  your  Bessie.  My  Wilhelm^ 
good  fellow — " 

Here  she  paused  and  restored  her  gift  to  its  old  place. 
She  had  seen  the  Junker's  plucked  present,  and  continued 
in  an  altered  tone :  "  So  you  already  have  a  pigeon — so 
much  the  better!  The  city  clerk's  little  girl  is  beginning 
to  droop  too.     I'll  see  you  to-morrow,  if  God  wills." 

She  was  about  to  go,  but  Georg  stopped  her,  say- 
ing :  "  You  are  mistaken,  my  good  lady.  I  shot  that 
bird  to-day,  I'll  confess  now,  Frau  Barbara;  my  corvus 
is  a  wretched  crow." 

i*  I  thought  so,"  cried  the  widow.  *'  Such  an  abomi- 
nation !" 

Yet  she  thrust  her  finger  into  the  bird's  breast,  say- 
ing :     "  But  there's  meat  on  the  creature." 

"  A  crow  !"  cried  Wilhelm's  mother,  clasping  her 
hands,  *'  True,  dogs  and  cats  are  already  hanging  on 
many  a  spit  and  have  wandered  into  many  a  pan.  There 
is  the  pigeon." 

Barbara  unwrapped  the  bird  as  carefully,  as  if  it  might 
crumble  under  her  fingers,  gazing  tenderly  at  it  as  she 
weighed  it  carefully  in  her  hand;  but  the  musician's 
mother  said  : 

"  It's  the  fourth  one  Wilhelm  has  killed,  and  he  said 
it  would  have  been  a  good  flier.  He  intended  it  special- 
ly for  your  Bessie.  Stuff  it  nicely  with  yellow  paste,  not 
too  solid  and  a  little  sweetened.     That  is  what  children 


286  THE    burgomaster's    WIFE. 


I 


like,  and  it  will  agree  with  her,  for  it  is  cheerfully  given. 
Put  the  little  thing  away.      When  we  have  known  any^ 
creature,  we  feel  sorry  to  see  it  dead."  1 

"  May  God  reward  you !"  cried  Barbara,  pressing  j 
the  kind  old  hand.    "  Oh  !  these  terrible  times !"  I 

"  Yet  there  is  still  something  to  be  thankful  for."         ■ 

*'  Of  course,  for  it  will  be  even  worse  in  hell,"  replied  ; 
the  widow.  \ 

"  Don't  fall  into  sin,"  said  the  aged  matron  :  "  You  ; 
have  only  one  sick  person  in  the  house.  Can  I  see  Frau  \ 
Maria  ?"  i 

"  She  is  in  the  workshops,  taking  the  people  a  little  • 
meat  from  our  store.  Are  you  too  so  short  of  flour  ?  i 
Cows  are  still  to  be  seen  in  the  pastures,  but  the  grain  ] 
seems  to  have  been  actually  swept  away ;  there  wasn't  \ 
a  peck  in  the  market.  Will  you  take  a  sip  of  wine  too  ?  j 
Shall  I  call  my  sister-in-law  ?"  i 

"  I  will  seek  her  myself.    The  usury  in  the  market  is  ^ 
^   no  longer  to  be  endured     We  can  do  nothing  more  | 
*  there,  but  she  is  already  bringing  people  to  reason." 

''  The  traders  in  the  market  ?  "  asked  Georg.  \ 

*'  Yes,    Herr   von    Domburg,    yes.     One   wouldn't  | 
believe  how  much  that  delicate  woman  can  accomplish,  i 
Day  before    yesterday,  when  we  went  about  to  learn  j 
how  large  a  stock  of  provisions  every  house  contains,  i 
people  treated  me  and  the  others  very  rudely,  many  j 
even  turned  us  out  of  doors.     But  she  went  to   the  j 
roughest,  and  the  cellars  and  store-rooms  opened  before 
her,  as  the  waves  of  the  sea  divided  before  the  people 
of  Israel.     How  she  does  it,  Heaven  knows,  but  the 
people  can't  refuse  her." 

Georg  drew  a  long  breath  and  left  the  kitchen.     In 
the  court-yard  he  found  several  city  soldiers,  volunteers 


THE    burgomaster's    WIFE.  287 

and  militia-men,  with  whom  he  went  through  exercises 
in  fencing.  Van  der  Werff  placed  it  at  his  disposal  for 
this  purpose,  and  there  certainly  was  no  man  in  Leyden 
more  capable  than  the  German  of  supplying  worthy 
Allertssohn's  place. 

Barbara  was  not  wrong.  His  pupils  looked  emaci- 
ated and  miserable  enough,  but  many  of  them  had 
learned,  in  the  dead  man's  school,  to  wield  the  sword 
well,  and  were  heartily  devoted  to  the  profession. 

In  the  centre  of  the  court-yard  stood  a  human 
figure,  stuffed  with  tow  and  covered  with  leather,  which 
bore  on  the  left  breast  a  bit  of  red  paper  in  the  shape 
of  a  heart.  The  more  unskilful  were  obliged  to  thrust 
at  this  figure  to  train  the  hand  and  eye;  the  others 
stood  face  to  face  in  pairs  and  fought  under  Georg's 
direction  with  blunt  foils. 

The  Junker  had  felt  very  weak  when  he  entered  the 
kitchen,  for  the  larger  half  of  his  ration  of  bread  had 
been  left  at  the  unfortunate  tailor's ;  but  Barbara's  wine 
had  revived  him  and,  rousing  himself,  he  stepped  briskly 
forth  to  meet  his  fencers.  His  doublet  was  quickly  flung 
on  a  bench,  his  belt  drawn  tighter,  and  he  soon  stood  in 
his  white  shirt-sleeves  before  the  soldiers. 

As  soon  as  his  first  word  of  command  was  heard, 
Henrica's  window  closed  with  a  bang.  Formerly  it  had 
often  been  opened  when  the  fencing  drill  began,  and 
she  had  not  even  shrunk  from  occasionally  clapping  her 
hands  and  calling  "  bravo."  This  time  had  long  since 
passed,  it  was  weeks  smce  she  had  bestowied  a  word  or 
glance  on  the  young  noble.  She  had  never  made  such 
advances  to  any  man,  would  not  have  striven  so  hard 
to  win  a  prince's  favor !  And  he  ?  At  first  he  had 
been  distant,  then  more  and  more  assiduously  avoided 


288  THE    burgomaster's    WIFE.  t 

her.  Her  pride  was  deeply  wounded.  Her  purpose  of  \ 
diverting  his  attention  from  Maria  had  long  been  for-  i 
gotten,  and  moreover  something — she  knew  not  what —  i 
had  come  between  her  and  the  young  wife.  Not  a  day  ' 
elapsed  in  which  he  did  not  meet  her,  and  this  was  a  ; 
source  of  pleasure  to  Henrica,  because  she  could  show  ; 
him  that  his  presence  was  a  matter  of  indifference,  nay  ■ 
even  unpleasant.  Her  imprisonment  greatly  depressed  i 
her,  and  she  longed  unutterably  for  the  open  country,  \ 
the  fields  and  the  forest.  Yet  she  never  expressed  a  ; 
wish  to  leave  the  city,  for — Georg  was  in  Leyden,  and  1 
every  waking  and  dreaming  thought  was  associated  i 
with  him.  She  loved  him  to-day,  loathed  him  to-  ' 
morrow,  and  did  both  with  all  the  ardor  of  her  pas-  i 
sionate  heart.  She  often  thought  of  her  sister  too,  and  ! 
uttered  many  prayers  for  her.  To  win  the  favor  of 
Heaven  by  good  works  and  escape  emiui^  she  helped  \ 
the  Grey  Sisters,  who  lived  in  a  little  old  convent  next  \ 
to  Herr  Van  der  Werff's  house,  nurse  the  sick  whom  i 
they  had  lovingly  received,  and  even  went  with  Sister  | 
Gonzaga  to  the  houses  of  the  Catholic  citizens,  to  collect  \ 
alms  for  the  little  hospital.  But  all  this  was  done  with-  \ 
out  joyous  self-devotion,  sometimes  with  extravagant  \ 
zeal,  sometimes  lazily,  and  for  days  not  at  all.  She  had  | 
become  excessively  irritable,  but  after  bemg  unbearably  • 
arrogant  one  day,  would  seem  sorrowful  and  ill  at  ease  ; 
the  next,  though  without  asking  the  offended  person's  j 
pardon. 

The  young  girl  now  stood  behind  the  closed  wmdow,  i 
watching  Georg,  who  with  a  bold  spring  dashed  at  the  \ 
leathern  figure  and  ran  the  sword  m  his  right  hand  : 
through  the  phantom's  red  heart.  \ 

The    soldiers    loudly    expressed    their    admiration,  j 


THE    burgomaster's    WIFE.  289 

Henrica's  eyes  also  sparkled  approvingly,  but  suddenly 
they  lost  their  light,  and  she  stepped  farther  back  into 
the  room,  for  Maria  came  out  of  the  workshops  in  the 
court-yard  and,  with  her  gaze  fixed  on  the  ground, 
walked  past  the  fencers. 

The  young  wife  had  grown  paler,  but  her  clear  blue 
eyes  had  gained  a  more  confident,  resolute  expression. 
She  had  learned  to  go  her  own  way,  and  sought  and 
found  arduous  duties  in  the  service  of  the  city  and  the 
poor.  She  had  remained  conqueror  in  many  a  severe 
conflict  of  the  heart,  but  the  struggle  was  not  yet  over; 
she  felt  this  whenever  Georg's  path  crossed  hers.  As 
far  as  possible  she  avoided  him,  for  she  did  not  conceal 
from  herself,  that  the  attempt  to  live  with  him  on  the  foot- 
ing of  a  friend  and  brother,  would  mean  nothing  but  the 
first  step  on  the  road  to  ruin  for  him  and  herself  That  he 
was  honestly  aiding  her  by  a  strong  effort  at  self-control, 
she  gratefully  felt,  for  she  stood  heart  to  heart  with  her 
husband  on  the  ship  of  life.  She  wished  no  other 
guide ;  nay  the  thought  of  going  to  destruction  with 
Peter  had  no  terror  to  her.  And  yet,  yet !  Georg  was 
like  the  magnetic  mountain,  that  attracted  her,  and 
which  she  must  avoid  to  save  the  vessel  from  sinking. 

To-day  she  had  been  asking  the  different  workmen 
how  they  fared,  and  witnessed  scenes  of  the  deepest 
misery. 

The  brave  men  knew  that  the  surrender  of  the  city 
might  put  an  end  to  their  distress,  but  wished  to  hold 
out  for  the  sake  of  liberty  and  their  religion,  and  en- 
dured their  suffering  as  an  inevitable  misfortune. 

In  the  entry  of  the  house  Maria  met  Wilhelm's 
mother,  and  promised  her  she  would  consult  with  Frau 
Van  Hout  that  very  day,  concerning  the  extortion  prac- 
19 


290  THE    BURGOMASTER  S    WIFE. 

tised  by  the  market-men.  Then  she  went  to  poor  Bessie, 
who  sat,  pale  and  weak,  in  a  Htde  chair.  Her  prettiest 
doll  had  been  lying  an  hour  in  the  same  position  on  her 
lap.  The  child's  little  hands  and  will  were  too  feeble  to 
move  the  toy.  Trautchen  brought  in  a  cup  of  new 
milk.  The  citizens  were  not  yet  wholly  destitute  of  this, 
for  a  goodly  number  of  cows  still  grazed  outside  the 
city  walls  under  the  protection  of  the  cannon,  but  the 
child  refused  to  drink  and  could  only  be  induced,  amid 
tears,  to  swallow  a  few  drops. 

While  Maria  was  affectionately  coaxing  the  little  one, 
Peter  entered  the  room.  The  tall  man,  the  very  model 
of  a  stately  burgher,  who  paid  careful  heed  to  his  out- 
ward appearance,  now  looked  careless  of  his  person. 
His  brown  hair  hung  over  his  forehead,  his  thick,  closely- 
trimmed  moustache  straggled  in  thin  lines  over  his 
cheeks,  his  doublet  had  grown  too  large,  and  his  stock- 
ings did  not  fit  snugly  as  usual,  but  hung  in  wrinkles  on 
his  powerful  legs. 

Greeting  his  wife  with  a  careless  wave  of  the  hand, 
he  approached  the  child  and  gazed  silently  at  it  a  long 
time  with  tender  affection.  Bessie  turned  her  pretty  lit- 
tle face  towards  him  and  tried  to  welcome  him,  but  the 
smile  died  on  her  lips,  and  she  again  g^zed  listlessly  at 
her  doll.  Peter  stooped,  raised  her  in  his  arms,  called 
her  by  name  and  pressed  his  lips  to  her  pale  cheeks.  The 
child  gently  stroked  his  beard  and  then  said  feebly: 

"  Put  me  down,  dear  father,  I  feel  dizzy  up  here." 

The  burgomaster,  with  tears  in  his  eyes,  put  his  dar- 
ling carefully  back  in  her  little  chair,  then  left  the  room 
and  went  to  his  study.  Maria  followed  him  and  asked : 
"  Is  there  no  message  yet  from  the  Prince  or  the  es- 
tates ?" 


THE    BURGOMAS'lER  S    WIFE.  29 1 

He  silently  shrugged  his  shoulders. 

"  But  they  will  not,  dare  not  forget  us  ?"  cried  the 
young  wife  eagerly. 

"  We  are  perishing  and  they  leave  us  to  die,"  he 
answered  in  a  hollow  tone. 

"  No,  no,  they  have  pierced  the  dykes;  I  know  they 
will  help  us." 

"  When  it  is  too  late.  One  thing  follows  another, 
misfortune  is  heaped  on  misfortune,  and  on  whom  do 
the  curses  of  the  starving  people  fall  ?  On  me,  me,  me 
alone." 

"  You  are  acting  with  the  Prince's  commissioner." 

Peter  smiled  bitterly,  saying  :  "  He  took  to  his  bed 
yesterday.  Bontius  says  it  is  the  plague.  I,  I  alone 
bear  everything." 

"We  bear  it  with  you,"  cried  Maria.  "  First  poverty, 
then  hunger,  as  we  promised." 

"  Better  than  that.  The  last  grain  was  baked  to- 
day.    The  bread  is  exhausted." 

"  We  still  have  oxen  and  horses." 

"We  shall  come  to  them  day  after  to-morrow. 
It  was  determined:  Two  pounds  with  the  bones  to 
every  four  persons.  Bread  gone,  cows  gone,  milk  gone. 
And  what  will  happen  then  ?  Mothers,  infants,  sick 
people !    And  our  Bessie  !" 

The  burgomaster  pressed  his  hands  on  his  temples 
and  groaned  aloud.  But  Maria  said :  "  Courage,  Peter, 
courage.  Hold  fast  to  one  thing,  don't  let  one  thing  go 
-—hope." 

"  Hope,  hope,"  he  answered  scornfully. 

"  To  hope  no  longer,"  cried  Maria,  "  means  to  des- 
pair. To  despair  means  in  our  case  to  open  the  gates, 
to  open  the  gates  means — " 

19* 


292  THE    burgomaster's    WIFE. 

"  Who  is  thinking  of  opening  the  gates  ?  Who  talks 
of  surrender  ?"  he  vehemently  interrupted.  ^'  We  will 
still  hold  firm,  still,  still —  There  is  the  portfolio,  take  it 
to  the  messenger." 


CHAPTER  XXIX. 

Bessie  had  eaten  a  piece  of  roast  pigeon,  the  first 
morsel  for  several  days,  and  there  was  as  much  rejoicing 
over  it  in  the  Van  der  WerfF  household,  as  if  some  great 
piece  of  good  fortune  had  befallen  the  family.  Adrian 
ran  to  the  workshops  and  told  the  men,  Peter  went  to 
the  town-hall  with  a  more  upright  bearing,  and  Maria, 
who  was  obliged  to  go  out,  undertook  to  tell  Wilhelm's 
mother  of  the  good  results  produced  by  her  son's  gift. 

Tears  ran  down  the  old  lady's  flabby  cheeks  at  the 
story  and,  kissing  the  burgomaster's  wife,  she  ex- 
claimed : 

"  Yes,  Wilhelm,  Wilhelm  !  If  he  w^ere  only  at  home 
now.  But  I'll  call  his  father.  Dear  me,  he  is  probably 
at  the  town-hall  too.  Hark,  Frau  Maria,  hark — what's 
that  ?" 

The  ringing  of  bells  and  firing  of  cannon  had  inter- 
rupted her  words ;  she  hastily  threw  open  the  window, 
crying : 

"  From  the  Tower  of  Pancratius  !  No  alarm-bell, 
firing  and  merry -ringing.  Some  joyful  tidings  have 
come.  We  need  them  !  Ulrich,  Ulrich !  Come  back  at 
once  and  bring  us  the  news.  Dear  Father  in  Heaven ! 
Merciful  God !  Send  the  relief     If  it  were  only  that !" 

The  two  women  waited  in  great  suspense.     At  last 


THE    burgomaster's    WIFE.  293 

Wilhelm*s  brother  Ulrich  returned,  saying  that  the  mes- 
sengers sent  to  Delft  had  succeeded  in  passing  the 
enemy's  ranks  and  brought  with  them  a  letter  from  the 
estates,  which  the  city-clerk  had  read  from  the  window 
of  the  town-hall.  The  representatives  of  the  country 
praised  the  conduct  and  endurance  of  the  citizens,  and 
informed  them  that,  in  spite  of  the  damage  done  to 
thousands  of  people,  the  dykes  would  be  cut. 

In  fact,  the  water  was  already  pouring  over  the  land, 
and  the  messengers  had  seen  the  vessels  appointed  to 
bring  relief  The  country  surrounding  Ley  den  must 
soon  be  inundated,  and  the  rising  flood  would  force  the 
Spanish  army  to  retreat,  "  Better  a  drowned  land  than 
a  lost  land,"  was  a  saying  that  had  been  decisive  in  the 
execution  of  the  violent  measure  proposed,  and  those 
who  had  risked  so  much  might  be  expected  to  shrink 
from  no  sacrifice  to  save  Leyden. 

The  two  women  joyously  shook  hands  with  each 
other ;  the  bells  continued  to  ring  merrily,  and  report 
after  report  of  cannon  made  the  window-panes  rattle. 

As  twilight  approached,  Maria  turned  her  steps 
towards  home.  It  was  long  since  her  heart  had  been 
so  light.  The  black  tablets  on  the  houses  containing 
cases  of  plague  did  not  look  so  sorrowful  to-day,  the 
emaciated  faces  seemed  less  pitiful  than  usual,  for  to 
them  also  help  was  approaching.  The  faithful  endu- 
rance was  to  be  rewarded,  the  cause  of  freedom  would 
conquer. 

She  entered  the  "  broad  street  "  with  winged  steps. 
Thousands  of  citizens  had  flocked  into  it  to  see,  hear, 
and  learn  what  might  be  hoped,  or  what  still  gave  cause 
for  fear.  Musicians  had  been  stationed  at  the  corners 
to  play  lively  airs;  the  Beggars'  song  mingled  with  the 


294  THE    BURGOMASTERS   WIFE. 

pipes  and  trumpets  and  the  cheers  of  enthusiastic  men. 
But  there  were  also  throngs  of  well-dressed  citizens  and 
women,  who  loudly  and  fearlessly  mocked  at  the  gay 
music  and  exulting  simpletons,  who  allowed  themselves 
to  be  cajoled  by  empty  promises.  Where  was  the 
relief?  What  could  the  handful  of  Beggars — which  at 
the  utmost  were  all  the  troops  the  Prince  could  bring — 
do  against  King  Philip's  terrible  mihtary  power,  that  sur- 
rounded Leyden  ?  And  the  inundation  of  the  country  ? 
The  ground  on  which  the  city  stood  was  too  high  for 
the  water  ever  to  reach  it.  The  peasants  had  been 
injured,  without  benefiting  the  citizens.  There  was 
only  one  means  of  escape — to  trust  to  the  King's 
mercy. 

"  What  is  liberty  to  us  ? "  shouted  a  brewer,  who, 
like  all  his  companions  in  business,  had  long  since  been 
deprived  of  his  grain  and  forbidden  to  manufacture  any 
fresh  beer.  *'  What  will  liberty  be  to  us,  when  we're  cold 
in  death  ?  Let  whoever  means  well  go  the  town-hall, 
and  demand  a  surrender  before  it  is  too  late." 

'^  Surrender !  The  mercy  of  the  King ! "  shouted  the 
citizens. 

"  Life  comes  first,  and  then  the  question  whether  it 
shall  be  free  or  under  Spanish  rule,  Calvanistical  or 
Popish!"  screamed  a  master- weaver.  ''I'll  march  to 
the  town-hall  with  you." 

''  You  are  right,  good  people,"  said  Burgomaster 
Baersdorp,  who,  clad  in  his  costly  fur-bordered  cloak, 
was  coming  from  the  town-hall  and  had  heard  the  last 
speaker's  words.  "  But  let  me  set  you  right.  To-day 
the  credulous  are  beginning  to  hope  again,  and  the 
time  for  pressing  your  just  desire  is  ill-chosen.  Wait  a 
few  days  and  then,  if  the  relief  does  not  appear,  urge 


THE    BURGOMASTER  S    WIFE.  295 

your  views.  I'll  speak  for  you,  and  with  me  many  a 
good  man  in  the  magistracy.  We  have  nothing  to  ex- 
pect from  Valdez,  but  gentleness  and  kindness.  To  rise 
against  the  King  was  from  the  first  a  wicked  deed — to 
fight  against  famine,  the  plague  and  death  is  sin  and 
madness.     May  God  be  with  you,  men  ! " 

"  The  burgomaster  is  sensible,"  cried  a  cloth-dyer. 

"  Van  Swieten  and  Norden  think  as  he  does,  but 
Meister  Peter  rules  through  the  Prince's  favor.  If  the 
Spaniards  rescue  us,  his  neck  will  be  in  danger,  when 
they  make  their  entrance  into  the  city.  So  no  matter 
who  dies;  he  and  his  are  living  on  the  fat  of  the  land 
and  have  plenty." 

"  There  goes  his  wife,"  said  a  master- w^eaver,  point- 
ing to  Maria.  "  How  happy  she  looks !  The  leather 
business  must  be  doing  well.  Holloa — Frau  Van  der 
Werff!  Holloa!  Remember  me  to  your  husband  and 
tell  him,  his  life  may  be  valuable;  but  ours  are  not  wisps 
of  straw." 

"  Tell  him,  too,"  cried  a  cattle-dealer,  who  did  not 
yet  seem  to  have  been  specially  injured  by  the  general 
distress,  *^  tell  him  oxen  can  be  slaughtered,  the  more 
the  better;  but  Leyden  citizens  —  " 

The  cattle-dealer  did  not  finish  his  sentence,  for  Herr 
Aquanus  had  seen  from  the  Angulus  what  was  hap- 
pening to  the  burgomaster's  wife,  came  out  of  the  tavern 
into  the  street,  and  stepped  into  the  midst  of  the  mal- 
contents. 

''  For  shame  ! "  he  cried.  ^'  To  assail  a  respectable 
lady  in  the  street !  Are  these  Leyden  manners  ?  Give 
me  your  hand,  Frau  Maria,  and  if  I  hear  a  single 
reviling  word,  I'll  call  the  constables.  I  know  you. 
The  gallows  Herr  Van  Bronkhorst  had  erected  for  men 


296  THE    burgomaster's    WIFE. 

like  you,  is  still  standing  by  the  Blue  Stone.  Which  of 
you  wants  to  inaugurate  them  ?  " 

The  men,  to  whom  these  words  were  addressed,  were 
not  the  bravest  of  mortals,  and  not  a  syllable  was  heard, 
as  Aquanus  led  the  young  wife  into  the  tavern.  The 
landlord's  wife  and  daughter  received  her  in  their  own 
rooms,  which  were  separated  from  those  occupied  by 
guests  of  the  inn,  and  begged  her  to  make  herself  com- 
fortable there  until  the  crowd  had  dispersed.  But 
Maria  longed  to  reach  home,  and  when  she  said  she 
must  go,  Aquanus  offered  his  company. 

Georg  von  Domburg  was  standing  in  the  entry  and 
stepped  back  with  a  respectful  bow,  but  the  innkeeper 
called  to  him,  saying : 

"  There  is  much  to  be  done  to-day,  for  many  a  man 
will  doubtless  indulge  himself  in  a  glass  of  liquor  after 
the  good  news.  No  offence,  Frau  Van  der  Werff,  but 
the  Junker  will  escort  you  home  as  safely  as  I — and 
you,  Herr  von  Dornburg  —  " 

"  I  am  at  your  service,"  replied  Georg,  and  went  out 
into  the  street  with  the  young  wife. 

For  a  time  both  walked  side  by  side  in  silence,  each 
fancying  he  or  she  could  hear  the  beating  of  the  other's 
heart.     At  last  Georg,  drawing  a  long  breath,  said: 

"Three  long,  long  months  have  passed  since  my 
arrival  here.     Have  I  been  brave,  Maria  ?" 

"  Yes,  Georg." 

"  But  you  cannot  imagine  what  it  has  cost  me  to 
fetter  this  poor  heart,  stifle  my  words,  and  blind  my 
eyes.     Maria,  it  must  once  be  said — " 

*'Never,  never,"  she  interrupted  in  a  tone  of  earnest 
entreaty.  "  I  know  that  you  have  struggled  honestly, 
do  not  rob  yourself  of  the  victory  now." 


THE    burgomaster's    WIFE.  297 

"  Oh !  hear  me,  Maria,  this  once  hear  me." 
"  What  will  it  avail,  if  you   oppress  my  soul  with 
ardent  words  ?     I  must  not  hear  from  any  man  that  he 
loves  me,   and  what   I   must  not  hear,  you  must  not 
speak." 

"  Must  not  ?"  he  asked  in  a  tone  of  gentle  reproach, 
then  in  a  gloomy,  bitter  mood,  continued  :  "  You  are 
right,  perfectly  right.  Even  speech  is  denied  me.  So 
life  may  run  on  like  a  leaden  stream,  and  everything 
that  grows  and  blossoms  on  its  banks  remain  scentless 
and  grey.  The  golden  sunshine  has  hidden  itself  behind 
a  mist,  joy  lies  fainting  in  my  heart,  and  all  that  once 
pleased  me  has  grown  stale  and  charmless.  Do  you 
recognize  the  happy  youth  of  former  days  ?" 

"  Seek  cheerfulness  again,  seek  it  for  my  sake." 
"  Gone,  gone,"  he  murmured  sadly.  "  You  saw  me 
in  Delft,  but  you  did  not  know  me  thoroughly.  These 
eyes  were  like  two  mirrors  of  fortune  in  which  every 
object  was  charmingly  transfigured,  and  they  were  re- 
warded; for  wherever  they  looked  they  met  only 
friendly  glances.  This  heart  then  embraced  the  whole 
world,  and  beat  so  quickly  and  joyously  !  I  often  did 
not  know  what  to  do  with  myself  from  sheer  mirth  and 
vivacity,  and  it  seemed  as  if  I  must  burst  into  a  thous- 
and pieces  like  an  over-loaded  firelock,  only  instead  of 
scattering  far  and  wide,  mount  straight  up  to  Heaven. 
Those  days  were  so  happy,  and  yet  so  sad — I  felt  it  ten 
times  as  much  in  Delft,  when  you  were  kind  to  me.  And 
now,  now  ?  I  still  have  wings,  I  still  might  fly,  but 
here  I  creep  like  a  snail — because  it  is  your  will." 

"  It  is  not  my  wish,"  replied  Maria.  *'  You  are  dear 
to  me,  that  I  may  be  permitted  to  confess — and  to  see 
you  thus  fills  me  with  grief.     But  now — if  I  am  dear  to 


298  THE    burgomaster's    WIFE.  i 

you,  and  I  know  y-ou  care  for  me — cease  to  torture  me 
so  cruelly.     You  are  dear  to  me.     I  have  said  it,  and  it 
must  be  spoken,  that  everything  may  be  clearly  under- 
stood between  us.     You  are  dear  to  me,  Hke  the  beauti-  i 
ful  by-gone  days  of  my  youth,  like  pleasant  dreams, ; 
like  a  noble  song,  in  which  we  take  delight,  and  which  ■ 
refreshes  our  souls,  whenever  we  hear  or  remember  it —  • 
but  more  you  are  not,  more  you  can  never  be.   You  are  | 
dear  to  me,  and  I  wish  you   to   remain  so,   but  that| 
you .  can  only  do  by  not  breaking  the  oath  you  have  j 
sworn." 

"  Sworn  ?"  asked  Georg.     "  Sworn  ?" 

^'  Yes,  sworn,"  interrupted  Maria,  checking  her  steps.  \ 
^' On  Peter's  breast,  on  the  morning  of  his  birthday — ; 
after  the  singing.  You  remember  it  well.  At  the  time  \ 
you  took  a  solemn  vow ;  I  know  it,  know  it  no  less  \ 
surely,  than  that  I  myself  swore  faith  to  my  husband  atj 
the  altar.     If  you  can  give  me  the  He,  do  so."  ■ 

Georg  shook  his  head,  and  answered  with  increas- 1 
ing  warmth :  \ 

"You  read  my  soul.  Our  hearts  know  each  other  j 
like  two  faithful  friends,  as  the  earth  knows  her  moon, .; 
the  moon  her  earth.  What  is  one  without  the  other  ?] 
Why  must  they  be  separated  ?  Did  you  ever  walk  along  ■ 
a  forest  path  ?  The  tracks  of  two  wheels  run  side  by  { 
side  and  never  touch.  The  axle  holds  them  asunder,  as ' 
our  oath  parts  us."  ; 

"  Say  rather — our  honor."  \ 

"  As  our  honor  parts  us.  But  often  in  the  woods  wei 
find  a  place  where  the  road  ends  in  a  field  or  hill,  and  \ 
there  the  tracks  cross  and  intersect  each  other,  and  ^ 
in  this  hour  I  feel  that  my  path  has  come  to  an  end.  I  ; 
can  go  no  farther,  I  cannot,  or  the  horses  will  plunge  : 


THE    burgomaster's    WIFE.  299 

into  the  thicket  and  the  vehicle  be  shattered  on  the 
roots  and  stones." 

"  And  honor  Avith  it.  Not  a  word  more.  Let  us 
walk  faster.  See  the  lights  in  the  windows.  Everyone 
wants  to  show  that  he  rejoices  in  the  good  news.  Our 
house  mustn't  remain  dark  either." 

'*  Don't  hurry  so.  Barbara  will  attend  to  it,  and  how 
soon  we  must  part !  Yet  you  said  that  I  was  dear  to 
you." 

"  Don't  torture  me,"  cried  the  young  wife,  with  pa- 
thetic entreaty. 

"  I  will  not  torture  you,  Maria,  but  you  must  hear 
me.  I  was  in  earnest,  terrible  earnest  in  the  mute  vow 
I  swore,  and  have  sought  to  release  myself  from  it  by 
death.  You  have  heard  how  I  rushed  like  a  madman 
among  the  Spaniards,  at  the  storming  of  the  Boschhuizen 
fortification  in  July.  Your  bow,  the  blue  bow  from 
Delft,  the  knot  of  ribbons  the  color  of  the  sky,  fluttered 
on  my  left  shoulder  as  I  dashed  upon  swords  and 
lances.  I  was  not  to  die,  and  came  out  of  the  confu- 
sion uninjured.  Oh !  Maria,  for  the  sake  of  this  oath  I 
have  suffered  unequalled  torments.  Release  me  from 
it,  Maria,  let  me  once,  only  once,  freely  confess — " 

"  Stop,  Georg,  stop,"  pleaded  the  young  wife.  "  I 
will  not,  must  not  hear  you  —  neither  to-day,  nor  to- 
morrow, never,  never,  to  all  eternity ! " 

"  Once,  only  once,  I  will,  I  must  say  to  you,  that  I 
love  you,  that  Hfe  and  happiness,  peace  and  honor — " 

"  Not  one  word  more.  Junker  von  Dornburg.  There 
is  our  house.  You  are  our  guest,  and  if  you  address 
a  single  v/ord  like  the  last  ones  to  your  friend's 
wife  —  " 

"  Maria,    Maria  —  oh,    don't    touch    the   knocker. 


300  THE  burgomaster's  wife. 

How  can  you  so  unfeelingly  destroy  the  whole  hap-| 
piness  of  a  human  being — " 

The  door  had  opened,  and  the  burgomaster's  wifel 
crossed  the  threshold.     Georg  stood  opposite  to  her, 
held  out  his  hand  as  if  beseeching  aid,  and  murmured 
in  a  hollow  tone  : 

"  Cast  forth  to  death  and  despair !  Maria,  Maria, 
why  do  you  treat  me  thus  ?  " 

She  laid  her  right  hand  in  his,  saying : 

"  That  we  may  remain  worthy  of  each  other, 
Georg." 

She  forcibly  withdrew  her  icy  hand  and  entered  the 
house ;  but  he  wandered  for  hours  through  the  lighted 
streets  like  a  drunken  man,  and  at  last  threw  himself, 
with  a  burning  brain,  upon  his  couch.  A  small  volume, 
lightly  stitched  together,  lay  on  a  little  table  beside  the 
bed.  He  seized  it,  and  with  trembling  fingers  wrote 
on  its  pages.  The  pencil  often  paused,  and  he  frequently 
drew  a  long  breath  and  gazed  with  dilated  eyes  into 
vacancy.  At  last  he  threw  the  book  aside  and  watched 
anxiously  for  the  morning. 


CHAPTER  XXX. 

Just  before  sunrise  Georg  sprang  from  his  couch, 
drew  out  his  knapsack,  and  filled  it  with  his  few  posses- 
sions; but  this  time  the  little  book  found  no  place  with 
the  other  articles. 

The  musician  Wilhelm  also  entered  the  court-yard  at 
a  very  early  hour,  just  as  the  first  workmen  were  going 


THE   BURGOMASTER'S    WIFE.  301 

to  the  shops.  The  Junker  saw  him  coming,  and  met 
him  at  the  door. 

The  artist's  face  revealed  few  traces  of  the  want  he 
had  endured,  but  his  whole  frame  was  trembling  with 
excitement  and  his  face  changed  color  every  moment, 
as  he  instantly,  and  in  the  utmost  haste,  told  Georg  the 
purpose  of  his  early  visit. 

Shortly  after  the  arrival  of  the  city  messengers,  a  Span- 
ish envoy  had  brought  Burgomaster  Van  der  Werff  a 
letter  written  by  Junker  Nicolas  Matanesse,  containing 
nothing  but  the  tidings,  that  Henrica's  sister  had  reached 
Leyderdorp  with  Belotti  and  found  shelter  in  the  elder 
Baron  Matanesse's  farm-house.  She  was  very  ill,  and 
longed  to  see  her  sister.  The  burgomaster  had  given  this 
letter  to  the  young  lady,  and  Henrica  hastened  to  the 
musician  without  delay,  to  entreat  him  to  help  her  es- 
cape from  the  city  and  guide  her  to  the  Spanish  lines, 
Wilhelm  was  undergoing  a  severe  struggle.  No  sacrifice 
seemed  too  great  to  see  Anna  again,  and  what  the  mes- 
senger had  accomplished,  he  too  might  succeed  in 
doing.  But  ought  he  to  aid  the  flight  of  the  young  girl 
detained  as  hostage  by  the  council,  deceive  the  sentinels 
at  the  gate,  desert  his  post  ? 

Since  Henrica's  request  that  Georg  would  escort 
her  sister  from  Lugano  to  Holland,  the  young  man 
had  known  everything  that  concerned  the  latter,  and 
was  also  aware  of  the  state  of  the  musician's  heart. 

**  I  must,  and  yet  I  ought  not,"  cried  Wilhelm.  "  I 
have  passed  a  terrible  night;  imagine  yourself  in  my 
place,  in  the  young  lady's." 

"  Get  a  leave  of  absence  until  to-morrow,"  said 
Georg  resolutely.  "  When  it  grows  dark,  I'll  accompany 
Henrica  with  you.    She  must  swear  to  return  to  the  city 


302  THE    BURGOMASTER  S    WIFE.  ■■] 

in  case  of  a  surrender.  As  for  me,  I  am  no  longer 
bound  by  any  oath  to  serve  the  EngHsh  flag.  A  month 
ago  we  received  permission  to  enter  the  service  of  the 
Netherlands.  It  will  only  cost  me  a  word  with  Captain 
Van  der  Laen,  to  be  my  own  master." 

^*  Thanks,  thanks ;  but  the  young  lady  forbade  me 
to  ask  your  assistance." 

"  Folly,  I  shall  go  with  you,  and  when  our  goal  is 
reached,  fight  my  way  through  to  the  Beggars.  Our  de- 
parture will  not  trouble  the  council,  for,  when  Henrica 
and  I  are  outside,  there  will  be  two  eaters  less  in  Ley- 
den.  The  sky  is  grey;  I  hope  we  shall  have  a  dark 
night.  Captain  Van  Duivenvoorde  commands  the 
guard  at  the  Hohenort  Gate.  He  knows  us  both,  and 
will  let  us  pass.  I'll  speak  to  him.  Is  the  farm-house 
far  inside  the  village  ?" 

"  No,  outside  on  the  road  to  Ley  den." 

"  Well  then,  we'll  meet  at  Aquanus's  tavern  at  four 
o'clock." 

*'  But  the  young  lady — " 

"  It  will  be  time  enough,  if  she  learns  at  the  gate 
who  is  to  accompany  her." 

When  Georg  came  to  the  tavern  at  the  appointed 
hour,  he  learned  that  Henrica  had  received  another  let- 
ter from  Nicolas.  It  had  been  given  to  the  outposts 
by  the  Junker  himself,  and  contained  only  the  words : 
"Until  midnight,  the  Spanish  watch- word  is  ^ Lepafito.^ 
Your  father  shall  know  to-day,  that  Anna  is  here." 

After  the  departure  from  the  Hohenort  Gate  had 
been  fixed  for  nine  o'clock  in  the  evening,  Georg  went 
to  Captain  Van  der  Laen  and  the  commandant  Van  der 
Does,  received  from  the  former  the  discharge  he  re- 
quested, and  from  Janus  a  letter  to  his  friend,  Admiral 


THE    burgomaster's    WIFE.  303 

Boisot.  When  he  mformed  his  men,  that  he  intended  to 
leave  the  city  and  make  his  way  to  the  Beggars,  they 
declared  they  would  follow,  and  live  or  die  with  him.  It 
was  with  difficulty  that  he  succeeded  in  restraining  them. 
Before  the  town-hall  he  slackened  his  pace.  The  burgo- 
master was  always  to  be  found  there  at  this  hour. 
Should  he  quit  the  city  without  taking  leave  of  him  ? 
No,  no  !  And  yet — since  yesterday  he  had  forfeited  the 
right  to  iook  frankly  into  his  eyes.  He  was  afraid  to 
meet  him,  it  seemed  as  if  he  were  completely  estranged 
from  him.  So  Georg  rushed  past  the  town-hall,  and 
said  defiantly :  "  Even  if  I  leave  him  without  a  fare- 
well, I  owe  him  nothing;  for  I  must  pay  for  his  kind- 
ness with  cruel  suffering,  perhaps  death.  Maria  loved 
me  first,  and  what  she  is,  and  was,  and  ever  will  be  to 
me,  she  shall  know  before  I  go." 

He  returned  to  his  room  at  twilight,  asked  the  man- 
servant to  carry  his  knapsack  to  Captain  Van  Duiven- 
voorde  at  the  Hohenort  Gate,  and  then  went,  with  his 
little  book  in  his  doublet,  to  the  main  building  to  take 
leave  of  Maria.  He  ascended  the  staircase  slowly  and 
paused  in  the  upper  entry. 

The  beating  of  his  heart  almost  stopped  his  breath. 
He  did  not  know  at  which  door  to  knock,  and  a  tortur- 
ing dread  overpowered  him,  so  that  he  stood  for  several 
minutes  as  if  paralyzed.  Then  he  summoned  up  his 
courage,  shook  himself,  and  muttered  :  ^'  Have  I  be- 
come a  coward !"  With  these  words  he  opened  the  door 
leading  into  the  dining-room  and  entered.  Adrian  was 
sitting  at  the  empty  table,  beside  a  burning  torch,  with 
some  books.     Georg  asked  for  his  mother. 

"  She  is  probably  spinning  m  her  room,"  replied  the 
boy. 


304  THE    burgomaster's    WIFE. 

"  Call  her,  I  have  something  important  to  tell  her/' 
Adrian  went  away,  returning  with  the  answer  that  the 
Junker  might  wait  in  his  father's  study. 

"  Where  is  Barbara  ?"  asked  Georg. 

"  With  Bessie." 

The  German  nodded,  and  while  pacing  up  and 
down  beside  the  dining-room,  thought ,  "  I  can't  go  so. 
It  must  come  from  the  heart ;  once,  once  more  I  will 
hear  her  say,  that  she  loves  me,  I  will — I  will — •  Let  it 
be  dishonorable,  let  it  be  worthy  of  execration,  I  will 
atone  for  it ;  I  will  atone  for  it  with  my  Hfe  !" 

While  Georg  was  pacing  up  and  down  the  room, 
Adrian  gathered  his  books  together,  saying :  "  B-r-r-r, 
Junker,  how  you  look  to-day  !  One  might  be  afraid  of 
you.  Mother  is  in  there  already.  The  tinder-box  is 
rattling ;  she  is  probably  lighting  the  lamp." 

"  Are  you  busy  ?"  asked  Georg. 

''  I've  finished." 

"  Then  run  over  to  Wilhelm  Corneliussohn  and  tell 
him  it  is  settled  :  we'll  meet  at  nine,  punctually  at  nine." 

"  At  Aquanus's  tavern  ?"  asked  the  boy. 

"  No,  no,  he  knows  ;  make  haste,  my  lad." 

Adrian  was  going,  but  Georg  beckoned  to  him,  and 
said  in  a  low  tone  :    "  Can  you  be  silent  ?"  - 

"  As  a  fried  sole." 

"  I  shall  sHp  out  of  the  city  to-day,  and  perhaps  may 
never  return." 

"  You,  Junker  ?     To-day  ?"  asked  the  boy. 

"  Yes,  dear  lad.  Come  here,  give  me  a  farewell 
kiss.     You  must  keep  this  litde  ring  to  remember  me." 

The  boy  submitted  to  the  kiss,  put  the  ring  on  his 
finger,  and  said  with  tearful  eyes:  "  Are  you  in  earnest? 
Yes,  the  famine  !     God  knows  I'd  run  after  you,  if  it 


THE    burgomaster's 

were  not  for  Bessie  and  mother, 
back  again  ?" 

"  Who  knows,  my  lad  !     Remembe^ 
you  hear?     Kindly  !    And  now  run." 

Adrian  rushed  down  the  stairs,  and  a  few^^sililiites 
after  the  Junker  was  standing  in  Peter's  study,  face  to 
face  with  Maria.  The  shutters  were  closed,  and  the 
sconce  on  the  table  had  two  lighted  candles. 

"Thanks,  a  thousand  thanks  for  coming,"  said 
Georg.  "  You  pronounced  my  sentence  yesterday,  and 
to-day — " 

"  I  know  what  brings  you  to  me,"  she  answered  gen- 
tly. "  Henrica  has  bidden  me  farewell,  and  I  must  not 
keep  her.  She  doesn't  wish  to  have  you  accompany 
her,  but  Meister  Wilhelm  betrayed  the  secret  to  me. 
You  have  come  to  say  farewell." 

"  Yes,  Maria,  farewell  forever." 

"  If  it  is  God's  will,  we  shall  see  each  other  again.  I 
knov/  what  is  driving  you  away  from  here.  You  are 
good  and  noble,  Georg,  and  if  there  is  one  thing  that 
lightens  the  parting,  it  is  this :  We  can  now  think  of 
each  other  without  sorrow  and  anger.  You  will  not  for- 
get us,  and — you  know  that  the  remembrance  of  you 
will  be  cherished  here  by  old  and  young — in  the  hearts 
of  all—" 

"  And  in  yours  also,  Maria  ?" 

"  In  mine  also." 

"  Hold  it  firmly.  And  when  the  storm  has  blown 
out  of  your  path  the  poor  dust,  which  to-day  lives  and 
breathes,  loves  and  despairs,  grant  it  a  place  in  your 
memory." 

Maria  shuddered,  for  deep  despair  looked  forth  with 
a  sullen  glow  from  the  eyes  that  met  hers.     Seized  with 


3o6  THE  burgomaster's  wife. 

an  anxious  foreboding,  she  exclaimed :  "  What  are  you 
thinking  of,  Georg  ?  for  Christ's  sake !  tell  me  what  is  in 
your  mind." 

"  Nothing  wrong,  Maria,  nothing  wrong.  We  birds 
now  sing  differently.  Whoever  can  saunter,  with  luke- 
warm blood  and  lukewarm  pleasures,  from  one  decade 
to  another  in  peace  and  honor,  is  fortunate.  My  blood 
flows  in  a  swifter  course,  and  what  my  eager  soul  has 
once  clasped  with  its  polyp  arms,  it  will  never  release 
until  the  death-hour  comes.  I  am  going,  never  to  re- 
turn ;  but  I  shall  take  you  and  my  love  with  me  to  bat- 
tle, to  the  grave. — I  go,  I  go — " 

"  Not  so,  Georg,  you  must  not  part  from  me  thus." 

*^  Then  cry :  ^  Stay  !'  Then  say  :  '  I  am  here  and  pity 
you !'  But  don't  expect  the  miserable  wretch,  whom  you 
have  blinded,  to  open  his  eyes,  behold  and  enjoy  the 
beauties  of  the  world.  There  you  stand,  trembling  and 
shaking,  without  a  word  for  him  who  loves  you,  for  him 
— him — " 

The  youth's  voice  faltered  with  emotion  and  sighing 
heavily,  he  pressed  his  hand  to  his  brow.  Then  he 
seemed  to  recollect  himself  and  continued  in  a  low,  sad 
tone:  "Here  I  stand,  to  tell  you  for  the  last  time  the 
state  of  my  heart.  You  should  hear  sweet  words,  but 
grief  and  pain  will  pour  bitter  drops  into  everything  I 
say.  I  have  uttered  in  the  language  of  poetry,  when  my 
heart  impelled  me,  that  for  which  dry  prose  possesses  no 
power  of  expression.  Read  these  pages,  Maria,  and  if 
they  wake  an  echo  in  your  soul,  oh!  treasure  it.  The 
honeysuckle  in  your  garden  needs  a  support,  that  it  may 
grow  and  put  forth  flowers;  let  these  poor  songs  be  the 
espalier  around  which  your  memory  of  the  absent  one 
can  twine  its  tendrils  and  cling  lovingly.     Read,  oh! 


THE    burgomaster's    WIFE.  307 

read,  and  then  say  once  more  :  '  You  are  dear  to  me/  or 
send  me  from  you." 

"Give  it  to  me,"  said  Maria,  opening  the  volume 
with  a  throbbing  heart. 

He  stepped  back  from  her,  but  his  breath  came 
quickly  and  his  eyes  followed  hers  while  she  was  reading. 

She  began  with  the  last  poem  but  one.  It  had  been 
written  just  after  Georg's  return  the  day  before,  and  ran 
as  follows: 

"Joyously  they  march  along, 
Lights  are  flashing  through  the  panes, 
In  the  streets  a  busy  throng 
Curiosity  enchains. 
Oh  !   the  merry  festal  night : 
Would  that  it  might  last  for  aye  ! 
For  aye !  Alas  !  Love,  splendor,  light, 
All,  all  have  passed  away." 

The  last  lines  Georg  had  written  with  a  rapid  pen 
the  night  before.  In  them  he  bewailed  his  hard  fate. 
She  must  hear  him  once,  then  he  would  sing  her  a  peer- 
less song.  Maria  had  followed  the  first  verses  silently 
with  her  eyes,  but  now  her  lips  began  to  move  and  in  a 
low,  rapid  tone,  but  audibly  she  read: 

"  Sometimes  it  echoes  like  the  thunder's  peal, 
Then  soft  and  low  through  the  May  night  doth  steal ; 
Sometimes,  on  joyous  wing,  to  Heaven  it  soars. 
Sometimes,  like  Philomel,  its  woes  deplores. 
For,  oh !  this  a  song  that  ne'er  can  die. 
It  seeks  the  heart  of  all  humanity. 
In  the  deep  cavern  and  the  darksome  lair. 
The  sea  of  ether  o'er  the  realm  of  air, 
In  every  nook  my  song  shall  still  be  heard. 
And  all  creation,  with  sad  yearning  stirred. 
United  in  a  full,  exultant  choir. 
Pray  thee  to  grant  the  singer's  fond  desire. 


3o8  THE  burgomaster's  wife.  j 

E'en  when  the  ivy  o'er  my  grave  hath  grown,  \ 

Still  will  ring  on  each  sweet,  enchanting  tone,  ■ 

Through  the  whole  world  and  every  earthly  zone,  l 

Resounding  on  in  aeons  yet  to  come."  \ 

Maria  read  on,  her  heart  beating  more  and  more  \ 

violently,  her  breath  coming  quicker  and  quicker,  and  | 

when  she  had  reached  the- last  verse,  tears  burst  from  \ 

her  eyes,  and  she  raised  the  book  with  both  hands  to  ; 

hurl  it  from  her  and  throw  her  arms  around  the  writer's  « 

neck.  ; 

He  had  been  standing  opposite  to  her,  as  if  spell-  j 

bound,  listening  blissfully  to  the  lofty  flight  of  his  own  I 

words.     Trembling  with  passionate  emotion,  he  yet  re-  '' 

strained  himself  until  she  had  raised  her  eyes  from  his  ] 

lines  and  lifted  the  book,  then  his  power  of  resistance  ; 

flew  to  the  winds  and,  fairly  beside  himself,  he  exclaimed:  i 
"Maria,  my  sweet  wife!" 

"  Wife  ?"  echoed  in  her  breast  like  a  cry  of  warnings  j 

and  it  seemed  as  if  an  icy  hand  clutched  her  heart.  ; 

The   intoxication   passed    away,   and  as  she  saw  him  ; 

standing  before  her  with  out-stretched  arms  and  sparkling  j 

eyes,  she  shrank  back,  a  feeling  of  intense  loathing  of  ] 

him  and  her  own  weakness  seized  upon  her  and,  instead  i 

of  throwing  the  book  aside  and  rushing  to  meet  him,  she  | 

tore  it  in  halves,  saying  proudly:  ''  Here  are  your  verses,  '; 

Junker  von  Dornburg;  take  them  with  you."      Then,  \ 

maintaining  her  dignity  by  a  strong  effort,  she  continued  ; 

in  a  lower,  more  gentle  tone,  "  I   shall  remember  you  \ 

without  this  book.     We  have  both  dreamed;  let  us  now  | 

wake.     Farewell !  I  will  pray  that  God  may  guard  you.  ] 

Give  me  your  hand,  Georg,  and  when  you  return,  we  \ 

will  bid  you  welcome  to  our  house  as  a  friend."  ! 

With   these    words    Maria   turned    away    from    the  j 


THE    burgomaster's    WIFE.  309 

Junker  and  only  nodded  silently,  when  he  exclaimed : 
''  Past !    All  past ! " 


CHAPTER  XXXI. 

Georg  descended  the  stairs  in  a  state  of  bewilder- 
ment. Both  halves  of  the  book,  in  which  ever  since  the 
wedding  at  Delft  he  had  written  a  succession  of  verses 
to  Maria,  lay  in  his  hand. 

The  light  of  the  kitchen-fire  streamed  into  the  entry. 
He  followed  it,  and  before  answering  Barbara's  kind 
greeting,  went  to  the  hearth  and  flung  into  the  fire  the 
sheets,  which  contained  the  pure,  sweet  fragrance  of  a 
beautiful  flower  of  youth. 

"  Oho  !  Junker !  "  cried  the  widow.  "  A  quick  fire 
doesn't  suit  every  kind  of  food.    What  is  burning  there  ?" 

"  Foolish  paper ! "  he  answered.  "  Have  no  fear. 
At  the  utmost  it  might  weep  and  put  out  the  flames.  It 
will  be  ashes  directly.  There  go  the  sparks,  flying  in 
regular  rows  through  the  black,  charred  pages.  How 
pretty  it  looks!  They  appear,  leap  forth  and  vanish  — 
like  a  funeral  procession  with  torches  in  a  pitch-dark 
night.  Good-night,  poor  children  —  good-night,  dear 
songs  !  Look,  Frau  Barbara !  They  are  rolling  them- 
selves up  tightly,  convulsively,  as  if  it  hurt  them  to 
burn." 

"  What  sort  of  talk  is  that  ?  "  replied  Barbara,  thrust- 
ing the  charred  book  deeper  into  the  fire  with  the  tongs. 
Then  pointing  to  her  own  forehead,  she  continued : 
^*  One  often  feels  anxious  about  you.  High-sounding 
words,  such  as  we  find  in  the  Psalms,  are  not  meant  for 


3IO  THE    BURGOMASTERS    WIFE.  J 

every-day  life  and  our  kitchen.  If  you  were  my  own  i 
son,  you'd  often  have  something  to  listen  to.  People  j 
who  travel  at  a  steady  pace  reach  their  goal  soonest." 

**  That's  good  advice  for  a  journey,"  replied  Georg,  \ 
holding  out  his  hand  to  the  widow.  "  Farewell,  dear  j 
mother.  I  can't  bear  it  here  any  longer.  In  half  an  I 
hour  I  shall  turn  my  back  on  this  good  city."  \ 

"Go  then — just  as  you  choose — Or  is  the  young  ; 
lady  taking  you  in  tow  ?  Nobleman's  son  and  noble-  j 
man's  daughter !  Like  to  like  —  Yet,  no ;  there  has  ! 
been  nothing  between  you.  Her  heart  is  good,  but  I  i 
should  wish  you  another  wife  than  that  Popish  Every-  I 
day-different."  | 

'^  So  Henrica  has  told  you  —  "  ] 

*'  She  has  just  gone.  Dear  me — she  has  her  rela-  ■ 
tives  outside;  and  we — it's  hard  to  divide  a  plum  into  j 
twelve  pieces.  I  said  farewell  to  her  cheerfully ;  but  1 
you,  Georg,  you — "  j 

"  I  shall  take  her  out  of  the  city,  and  then — you  j 
won't  blame  me  for  it — then  I  shall  make  my  way  ; 
through  to  the  Beggars."  j 

"  The  Beggars !  That's  a  different  matter,  that's  | 
right.  You'll  be  in  your  proper  place  there !  Cheer  \ 
up.  Junker,  and  go  forth  boldly  ?  Give  me  your  hand,  \ 
and  if  you  meet  my  boy — he  commands  a  ship  of  his] 
own. —  Dear  me,  I  remember  something..  You  can  * 
wait  a  moment  longer.  Come  here,  Trautchen.  The  : 
woollen  stockings  I  knit  for  him  are  up  in  the  painted  \ 
chest.  Make  haste  and  fetch  them.  He  may  need  ^ 
them  on  the  water  in  the  damp  autumn  weather.  : 
You'll  take  them  with  you  ?  "  i 

"Willingly,  most  wiUingly;  and  now  let  me  thank  I 
you  for  all  your  kindness.     You  have  been  like  ah  own  j 

\ 


THE    burgomaster's    WIFE.  ^IX 

mother  to  me."  Georg  clasped  the  widow's  hand,  and 
neither  attempted  to  conceal  how  dear  each  had  become: 
to  the  other  and  how  hard  it  was  to  part.  Trautchen 
had  given  Barbara  the  stockings,  and  many  tears  fell 
upon  them,  while  the  widow  was  bidding  the  Junker 
farewell.  When  she  noticed  they  were  actually  wet,  she: 
waved  them  in  the  air  and  handed  them  to  the  young- 
man. 

The  night  was  dark  but  still,  even  sultry.  The  trav- 
ellers were  received  at  the  Hohenort  Gate  by  Captain^ 
Van  Duivenvoorde,  preceded  by  an  old  sergeant,  car- 
rying a  lantern,  who  opened  the  gate.  The  captain^ 
embraced  his  brave,  beloved  comrade,  Dornburg;  a  few 
farewell  words  and  god-speeds  echoed  softly  from  the? 
fortification  walls,  and  the  trio  stepped  forth  into  the: 
open  country. 

For  a  time  they  walked  silently  through  the  dark- 
ness. Wilhelm  knew  the  way  and  strode  in  front  of 
Henrica ;  the  Junker  kept  close  at  her  side. 

All  was  still,  except  from  time  to  time  they  heard  a. 
word  of  command  from  the  walls,  the  striking  of  a  clock,, 
or  the  barking  of  a  dog. 

Henrica  had  recognized  Georg  by  the  light  of  the: 
lantern,  and  when  Wilhelm  stopped  to  ascertain  whether 
there  was  any  water  in  the  ditch  over  which  he  intended 
to  guide  his  companions,  she  said,  under  her  breath: 
*^I  did  not  expect  your  escort.  Junker." 
"  I  know  it,  but  I,  too,  desired  to  leave  the  city." 
"And  wish  to  avail  yourself  of  our  knowledge  of  the 
watchword.     Then  stay  with  us." 

"Until  I  know  you  are  safe,  Fraulein." 
"The  walls  of  Leyden  already  lie  between  you  and 
the  peril  from  which  you  fly." 


312  THE    BURGOMASTERS    WIFE.  ' 

"I  don't  understand  you."  • 

"  So  much  the  better."  I 

Wilhelm  turned  and,  in  a  muffled  voice,  requested  i 
his  companions  to  keep  silence.      They  now  walked  : 
noiselessly  on,  until  just  outside  the  camp  they  reached  ; 
the  broad  road  around  which  they  had  made  a  circuit.  ; 
A  Spanish  sentinel  challenged  them.  ' 

'•'' Lepaiito r  was  the  answer,  and  they  passed  on  I 
through  the  camp  unmolested.  A  coach  drawn  by  four  i 
horses,  a  mere  box  hung  between  two  tiny  fore-wheels  ' 
and  a  pair  of  gigantic  hind- wheels,  drove  slowly  past 
them.  It  was  conveyhig  Magdalena  Moons,  the  daugh-  ■ 
ter  of  an  aristocratic  Holland  family,  distinguished  i 
among  the  magistracy,  back  to  the  Hague  from  a  visit ; 
to  her  lover  and  future  husband,  Valdez.  No  one  no-  \ 
ticed  Henrica,  for  there  were  plenty  of  women  in  the  i 
camp.  Several  poorly-clad  ones  sat  before  the  tents,  \ 
mending  the  soldiers'  clothes.  Some  gaily-bedizened  i 
wenches  were  drinking  wine  and  throwing  dice  with  | 
their  male  companions  in  front  of  an  officer's  tent.  A  \ 
brighter  light  glowed  from  behind  the  general's  quarters,  \ 
where,  under  a  sort  of  shed,  several  confessionals  and  an  ' 
altar  had  been  erected.  Upon  this  altar  candles  were  ] 
burning,  and  over  it  hung  a  silver  lamp;  a  dark,  motion-  * 
less  stream  pressed  towards  it;  Castilian  soldiers,  among  i 
whom  individuals  could  be  recognized  only  when  the  \ 
candle-light  flashed  upon  a  helmet  or  coat  of  mail.  \ 

The  loud  singing  of  carousing  German  mercenaries,  \ 
the  neighing  and  stampmg  of  the  horses,  and  the  laugh-  \ 
ter  of  the  officers  and  girls,  drowned  the  low  chanting  ; 
of  the  priests  and  the  murmur  of  the  penitents,  but  the  \ 
shrill  sounding  of  the  bell  calling  to  mass  from  time  to  j 
time  pierced,  with  its  swift  vibrations,  through  the  noise  < 


THE    burgomaster's    wfrE.  313 

of  the  camp.  Just  outside  the  village  the  watch-word 
was  again  used,  and  they  reached  the  first  house  unmo- 
lested. 

"  Here  we  are,"  said  Wilhelm,  with  a  sigh  of  relief. 
^^  Profit  by  the  darkness,  Junker,  and  keep  on  till  you 
have  the  Spaniards  behind  you." 

"  No,  my  friend  ;  you  will  remain  here.  I  wish  to 
share  your  danger.  I  shall  return  with  you  to  Leyden 
and  from  thence  try  to  reach  Delft;  meantime  I'll  keep 
watch  and  give  you  warning,  if  necessary." 

"  Let  us  bid  each  other  farewell  now,  Georg ;  hours 
may  pass  before  I  return." 

'^  I  have  time,  a  horrible  amount  of  time.  I'll  wait. 
There  goes  the  door." 

The  Junker  grasped  his  sword,  but  soon  removed 
his  hand  from  the  hilt,  for  it  was  Belotti,  who  came  out 
and  greeted  the  signorina. 

Henrica  followed  him  into  the  house  and  there 
talked  with  him  in  a  low  tone,  until  Georg  called  her, 
saying : 

"  Fraulein  Van  Hoogstraten,  may  I  ask  for  a  word 
of  farewell  ?" 

"  Farewell,  Herr  von  Domburg!"  she  answered  dis- 
tantly, but  advanced  a  step  towards  him. 

Georg  had  also  approached,  and  now  held  out  his 
hand.  She  hesitated  a  moment,  then  placed  hers  in  it, 
and  said  so  softly,  that  only  he  could  hear : 

"  Do  you  love  Maria  ?" 

"  So  I  am  to  confess  ?" 

*'  Don't  refuse  my  last  request,  as  you  did  the  first. 
If  you  can  be  generous,  answer  me  fearlessly.  I'll  not 
betray  your  secret  to  any  one.  Do  you  love  Frau  Van 
der  Werff  ?" 


314  THt    burgomaster's    WIFE. 

''  Yes,  Fraulein." 

Henrica  drew  a  long  breath,  then  continued  :  "  And 
now  you  are  rushing  out  into  the  world  to  forget 
her?" 

'*  No,  Fraulein." 

''  Then  tell  me  why  you  have  fled  from  Leyden  ?" 

"  To  find  an  end  that  becomes  a  soldier." 

Henrica  advanced  close  to  his  side,  exclaiming  so 
scornfully,  that  it  cut  Georg  to  the  heart : 

"  So  it  has  grasped  you  too  !  It  seizes  all :  Knights, 
maidens,  wives  and  widows ;  not  one  is  spared.  Never- 
ending  sorrow !  Farewell,  Georg  !  We  can  laugh  at  or 
pity  each  other,  just  as  we  choose.  A  heart  pierced 
with  seven  swords :  what  an  exquisite  picture  !  Let  us 
wear  blood-red  knots  of  ribbon,  instead  of  green  and 
blue  ones.  Give  me  your  hand  once  more,  now  fare- 
well." 

Henrica  beckoned  to  the  musician  and  both  followed 
Belotti  up  the  steep,  narrow  stairs.  Wilhelm  remained 
behind  in  a  little  room,  adjoining  a  second  one,  where 
a  beautiful  boy,  about  three  years  old,  was  being  tended 
by  an  Itahan  woman.  In  a  third  chamber,  which  like 
all  the  other  rooms  in  the  farm-house,  was  so  low  that  a 
tall  man  could  scarcely  stand  erect,  Henrica's  sister  lay 
on  a  wide  bedstead,  over  which  a  screen,  supported  by 
four  columns,  spread  like  a  canopy.  Links  dimly 
lighted  the  long  narrow  room.  The  reddish-yellow  rays 
of  their  broad  flames  were  darkened  by  the  canopy,  and 
scarcely  revealed  the  invalid's  face. 

Henrica  had  given  the  Italian  woman  and  the  child 
in  the  second  room  but  a  hasty  greeting,  and  now  im- 
petuously pressed  forward  into  the  third,  rushed  to  the 
bed,  threw  herself  on  her  knees,  clasped  her  arms  pas- 


THE    burgomaster's    WIFE.  315 

sionately  around  her  sister,  and  covered  her  face  with 
glowing  kisses. 

She  said  nothing  but  "Anna,"  and  the  sick  woman 
found  no  other  word  than  "  Henrica."  Minutes  elapsed^ 
then  the  young  girl  started  up,  seized  one  of  the  torches 
and  cast  its  light  on  her  regained  sister's  face.  How 
pale,  how  emaciated  it  looked !  But  it  was  still  beauti- 
ful, still  the  same  as  before.  Strangely-blended  emo- 
tions of  joy  and  grief  took  possession  of  Henrica's  soul. 
Her  cold  hard  feelings  grew  warm  and  melted,  and  in 
this  hour  the  comfort  of  tears,  of  which  she  had  been  so 
long  deprived,  once  more  became  hers. 

Gradually  the  flood  tide  of  emotion  began  to  ebb^ 
and  the  confusion  of  loving  exclamations  and  incohe- 
rent words  gained  some  order  and  separated  into 
question  and  answer.  When  Anna  learned  that  the 
musician  had  accompanied  her  sister,  she  wished  to  see 
him,  and  when  he  entered,  held  out  both  hands,  ex- 
claiming : 

"  Meister,  Meister,  in  what  a  condition  you  find  me 
again !  Henrica,  this  is  the  best  of  men ;  the  only  un- 
selfish friend  I  have  found  on  earth." 

The  succeeding  hours  were  full  of  sorrowful  agita- 
tion. 

Belotti  and  the  old  Italian  woman  often  undertook 
to  speak  for  the  invalid,  and  gradually  the  image  of  a 
basely-destroyed  life,  that  had  been  worthy  of  a  better 
fate,  appeared  before  Henrica  and  Wilhelm.  Fear, 
anxiety  and  torturing  doubt  had  from  the  first  saddened 
Anna's  existence  with  the  unprincipled  adventurer  and 
gambler,  who  had  succeeded  in  beguiling  her  youngs 
inexperienced  heart.  A  short  period  of  intoxication 
was   followed    by   an   unexampled    awakening.       She 


7l6  THE    burgomaster's    WIFE.  \ 

^  1 

was  clasping  her  first  child  to  her  breast,  when  the  \ 
unprecedented  outrage  occurred — Don  Luis  demanded  \ 
that  she  should  move  with  him  into  the  house  of  a  j 
notorious  Marchesa,  in  whose  ill-famed  gambling-rooms  \ 
he  had  spent  his  evenings  and  nights  for  months.  She  \ 
indignantly  refused,  but  he  coldly  and  threateningly  \ 
persisted  in  having  his  will.  Then  the  Hoogstraten  ] 
blood  asserted  itself,  and  without  a  word  of  farewell  she  \ 
fled  with  her  child  to  Lugano.  There  the  boy  was  re-  ; 
ceived  by  his  mother's  former  waiting-maid,  while  she  i 
herself  went  to  Rome,  not  as  an  adventuress,  but  with  a  \ 
fixed,  praiseworthy  object  in  view.  She  intended  to  fully  i 
perfect  her  musical  talents  in  the  new  schools  of  Pales-  i 
trina  and  Nanini,  and  thus  obtain  the  ability,  by  means  j 
of  her  art,  to  support  her  child  ii;  dependently  of  his  j 
father  and  hers.  She  risked  much,  but  very  definite  1 
hopes  hovered  before  her  eyes,  for  a  distinguished  pre-  i 
late  and  lover  of  music,  to  whom  she  had  letters  of  in-  j 
troduction  from  Brussels,  and  who  knew  her  voice,  had  \ 
promised  that  after  her  return  from  her  musical  studies  he  \ 
would  give  her  the  place  of  singing-mistress  to  a  young  1 
girl  of  noble  birth,  who  had  been  educated  in  a  convent  \ 
at  Milan.  She  was  under  his  guardianship,  and  the  \ 
worthy  man  took  care  to  provide  Anna,  before  her  de-  ; 
parture,  with  letters  to  his  friends  in  the  eternal  city.  ] 
Her  hasty  flight  from  Rome  had  been  caused  by  the  ; 
news,  that  Don  Luis  had  found  and  abducted  his  son.  \ 
She  could  not  lose  her  child,  and  when  she  did  not  find  ; 
the  boy  in  Milan,  followed  and  at  last  discovered  him  \ 
in  Naples.  There  d'Avila  restored  the  child,  after  she  ' 
had  declared  her  willingness  to  make  over  to  him  , 
the  income  she  still  received  from  her  aunt.  The  long  \ 
journey,  so  full  of  excitement  and  fatigue,  exhausted  her  i 


THE    BURGOMASTERS    WIFE.  317 

Strength,  and  she  returned  to  Milan  feeble  and  broken  in 
health. 

Her  patron  had  been  anxious  to.  keep  the  place  of 
singing-mistress  open  for  her,  but  she  could  only  fulfil  for 
a  short  time  the  duties  to  which  the  superior  of  the  convent 
kindly  summoned  her,  for  her  sickness  was  increasing  and 
a  terrible  cough  spoiled  her  voice.  She  now  returned  to 
Lugano,  and  there  sought  to  compensate  her  poor  honest 
friend  by  the  sale  of  her  ornaments,  but  the  time  soon  came 
when  the  generous  artist  was  forced  to  submit  to  be 
supported  by  the  charity  of  a  servant.  Until  the  last 
six  months  she  had  not  suffered  actual  want,  but  when 
her  maid's  husband  died,  anxiety  about  the  means  of 
procuring  daily  bread  arose,  and  now  maternal  love 
broke  down  Anna's  pride :  she  wrote  to  her  father  as  a 
repentant  daughter,  bowed  down  by  misfortune,  but 
received  no  reply.  At  last,  reduced  to  starvation  with 
her  child,  she  undertook  the  hardest  possible  task,  and 
besought  the  man,  of  whom  she  could  only  think  with 
contempt  and  loathing,  not  to  let  his  son  grow  up  like  a 
beggar's  child.  The  letter,  which  contained  this  cry  of 
distress,  had  reached  Don  Luis  just  before  his  death. 
No  help  was  to  come  to  her  from  him.  But  Belotti  ap- 
peared, and  now  she  was  once  more  at  home,  her  friend 
and  sister  were  standing  beside  her  bed,  and  Henrica 
encouraged  her  to  hope  for  her  father's  forgiveness. 

It  was  past  midnight,  yet  Georg  still  awaited  his 
friend's  return.  The  noise  and  bustle  of  the  camp 
began  to  die  away  and  the  lantern,  which  at  first  had 
but  feebly  lighted  the  spacious  lower-room  of  the  farm- 
house, burned  still  more  dimly.  The  German  shared 
this  apartment  with  agricultural  implements,  harnesses, 
and  many  kinds  of  grain  and  vegetables  heaped  in  piles 


3i8  THE  burgomaster's  wife.  ■ 

against  the  walls,  but  he  lacked  inclination  to  cast  even  : 
a  glance  at  his  motley  surroundings.  There  was  nothing 
pleasant  to  him  in  the  present  or  future.  He  felt 
humiliated,  guilty,  weary  of  life.  His  self-respect  was 
trampled  under  foot,  love  and  happiness  were  forfeited, 
there  was  naught  before  him  save  a  colorless,  charmless 
future,  full  of  bitterness  and  mental  anguish.  Nothing 
seemed  desirable  save  a  speedy  death.  At  times  the** 
fair  image  of  his  home  rose  before  his  memory — but  it 
vanished  as  soon  as  he  recalled  the  burgomaster's 
dignified  figure,  his  own  miserable  weakness  and  the 
repulse  he  had  experienced.  He  was  full  of  fierce  in- 
dignation against  himself,  and  longed  with  passionate 
impatience  for  the  clash  of  swords  and  roar  of  cannon, 
the  savage  struggle  man  to  man. 

Time  passed  without  his  perceiving  it,  but  a  tortur-    : 
ing  desire  for  food  began  to  torment  the  starving  man.    '■ 
There  were  plenty  of  turnips  piled  against  the  wall,  and 
he  eat  one  after  another,  until  he  experienced  the  feeling   \ 
of  satiety  he  had  so  long  lacked.     Then  he  sat  down  on 
a  kneading-trough  and  considered  how  he  could  best   ' 
get  to  the  Beggars.     He  did  not  know  his  way,  but  woe   • 
betide  those  who  ventured  to  oppose  him.    His  arm  and 
sword  were  good,  and  there  were  Spaniards  enough  at    , 
hand  whom  he  could  make  feel  the  weight  of  both.    His 
impatience  began  to  rise,  and  it  seemed  like  a  welcome 
diversion,  when  he  heard  steps  approaching  and  a  man's   '; 
figure  entered  the  house.     He  had  stationed  himself  by 
the  wall  with  his  sword  between  his  folded  arms,  and  *  \ 
now  shouted  a  loud  "halt"  to  the  new-comer. 

The  latter  instantly  drew  his  sword,  and  when  Georg  '■ 
imperiously  demanded  what  he  wanted,  replied  in  a  boy-  \ 
ish  voice,  but  a  proud,  resolute  tone: 


THE    BURGOMASTERS    WIFE.  319 

"I  ask  you  that  question!  I  am  in  my  father's 
house." 

"  Indeed ! "  repHed  the  German  smiling,  for  he  had 
now  recognized  the  speaker's  figure  by  the  dim  Hght. 
*'  Put  up  your  sword.  If  you  are  young  Matanesse  Van 
Wibisma,  you  Jiave  nothing  to  fear  from  me." 

"I  am.  But  what  are  you  doing  on  our  premises  at 
night,  sword  in  hand?" 

"  I'm  warming  the  wall  to  my  own  satisfaction,  or, 
if  you  want  to  know  the  truth,  mounting  guard." 

"In  our  house?" 

"Yes,  Junker.  There  is  some  one  up-stairs  with 
your  cousins,  who  wouldn't  like  to  be  surprised  by  the 
Spaniards.  Go  up.  I  know  from  Captain  Van  Duiven- 
voorde  what  a  gallant  young  fellow  you  are." 

"From  Herr  von  Warmond?"  asked  Nicolas  eager- 
ly. "Tell  me!  what  brings  you  here,  and  who  are 
you?" 

"One  who  is  fighting  for  your  liberty,  a  German, 
Georg  von  Dornburg." 

"Oh,  wait  here,  I  entreat  you.  I'll  come  back 
directly.  Do  you  know  whether  Fraulein  Van  Hoog- 
straten — " 

"  Up  there,"  replied  Georg,  pointing  towards  the 
ceiling. 

Nicolas  sprang  up  the  stairs  in  two  or  three  bounds, 
called  his  cousin,  and  hastily  told  her  that  her  father 
had  had  a  severe  fall  from  his  horse  while  hunting,  and 
was  lying  dangerously  ill.  When  Nicolas  spoke  of 
Anna  he  had  at  first  burst  into  a  furious  passion,  but 
afterwards  voluntarily  requested  him  to  tell  him  about 
her,  and  attempted  to  leave  his  bed  to  accompany  him. 
He  succeeded  in  doing  so,  but  fell  back  fainting.    When 


320  THE    burgomaster's    WIFE. 

his  father  came  early  tlie  next  morning,  she  might  tell 
him  that  he,  Nicolas,  begged  his  forgiveness ;  he  was 
about  to  do  what  he  beheved  to  be  his  duty. 

He  evaded  Henrica's  questions,  and  merely  hastily 
enquired  about  Anna's  liealth  and  the  Leyden  citizen, 
whom  Georg  had  mentioned. 

When  he  heard  the  name  of  the  musician  Wilhelm, 
he  begged  her  to  warn  him  to  depart  in  good  time, 
and  if  possible  in  his  company,  then  bade  her  a  hurried 
farewell  and  ran  down-stairs. 

Wilhelm  soon  followed.  Henrica  accompanied  him 
to  the  stairs  to  see  Georg  once  more,  but  as  soon  as 
she  heard  his  voice,  turned  defiantly  away  and  went 
back  to  her  sister. 

The  musician  found  Junker  von  Dornburg  engaged 
in  an  eager  conversation  with  Nicolas. 

"  No,  no,  my  boy,"  said  the  German  cordially,  "my 
way  cannot  be  yours." 

"  I  am  seventeen  years  old." 

*'  That's  not  it;  you've  just  confronted  me  bravely, 
and  you  have  a  man's  strength  of  will — but  life  ought 
still  to  bear  flowers  for  you,  if  such  is  God's  will — you 
are  going  forth  to  fight  sword-in-hand  to  win  a  worthy 
destiny  of  peace  and  prosperity,  for  yourself  and  your 
native  land,  in  freedom  —  but  I,  I  —  give  me  your  hand 
and  promise — " 

"  My  hand  ?  There  it  is ;  but  I  must  refuse  the 
promise.  With  or  without  you  —  I  shall  go  to  the 
Beggars ! " 

Georg  gazed  at  the  brave  boy  in  delight,  and  asked 
gently  : 

^'  Is  your  mother  living  ?" 

"No." 


THE    BURGOMASTERS    WIFE.  32 T 

"  Then  come.  We  shall  probably  both  find  what 
we  seek  with  the  Beggars.'* 

Nicolas  clasped  the  hand  Georg  offered,  but  Wil- 
helm  approached  the  Junker,  saying: 

"  I  expected  this  from  you,  after  what  I  saw  at  St^ 
Peter's  church  and  Quatgelat's  tavern." 

"  You  first  opened  my  eyes,"  replied  Nicolas.  "  Now 
come,  we'll  go  directly  through  the  camp ;  they  all- 
know  me." 

In  the  road  the  boy  pressed  close  to  Georg,  and  in? 
answer  to  his  remark  that  he  would  be  in  a  hard  posi- 
tion towards  his  father,  replied  : 

**  I  know  it,  and  it  causes  me  such  pain — such  pain. 
— But  I  can't  help  it.  I  won't  suffer  the  word  *  traitor' 
to  cling  to  our  name." 

"  Your  cousin  Matanesse,  Herr  von  Riviere,  is  also 
devoted  to  the  good  cause." 

"But  my  father  thinks  differently.  He  has  the 
courage  to  expect  good  deeds  from  the  Spaniards. 
From  the  Spaniards !  I've  learned  to  know  them  during 
the  last  few  months.  A  brave  lad  from  Leyden,  you 
knew  him  probably  by  his  nickname,  Lowing,  which  he 
really  deserved,  was  captured  by  them  in  fair  fight,  and 
then — it  makes  me  shudder  even  now  wlien  I  think  of 
it — they  hung  him  up  head  downward,  and  tortured  hinu 
to  death.  I  was  present,  and  not  one  word  of  theirs  es- 
caped my  ears.  Such  ought  to  be  the  fate  of  all  Hol- 
land, country  and  people,  that  was  what  they  wanted. 
And  remarks  like  these  can  be  heard  every  day.  Na 
abuse  of  us  is  too  bad  for  them,  and  the  King  thinks 
like  his  soldiers.  Let  some  one  else  endure  to  be  the 
slave  of  a  master,  who  tortures  and  despises  us !  My 
holy  religion  is  eternal  and  indestructible.     Even  if  it  is 


32  2  THE    burgomaster's    WIFE. 


hateful  to  many  of  the  Beggars,  that  shall  not  trouble  j 
me — if  only  they  will  help  break  the  Spanish  chains." 

Amid  such  conversation  they  walked  through  the  i 
CastiHan  camp,  where  all  lay  buried  in  sleep.  Then  I 
they  reached  that  of  the  German  troops,  and  here  gay  1 
carousing  was  going  on  under  many  a  tent.  At  the  end  \ 
of  the  encampment  a  sutler  and  his  wife  were  collecting  \ 
together  the  wares  that  remained  unsold. 

Wilhelm  had  walked  silently  behind  the  other  two,  \ 
for  his  heart  was  deeply  stirred,  joy  and  sorrow  were  i 
striving  for  the  mastery.  He  felt  intoxicated  with  lofty,  ; 
pure  emotions,  but  suddenly  checked  his  steps  before  the  I 
sutler's  stand  and  pointed  to  the  pastry  gradually  dis-  : 
appearing  in  a  chest.  \ 

Hunger  had  become  a  serious,  nay  only  too  serious  ! 
and  mighty  power,  in  the  city  beyond,  and  it  was  not  at  ; 
all  surprising  that  Wilhelm  approached  the  venders,  and  ; 
with  sparkling  eyes  bought  their  last  ham  and  as  much  i 
bread  as  they  had  left.  i 

Nicolas  laughed  at  the  bundle  he  carried  under  his  ! 
arm,  but  Georg  said  :  j 

"  You  haven't  yet  looked  want  in  the  face.  Junker.  : 
This  bread  is  a  remedy  for  the  most  terrible  disease."       ; 

At  the  Hohenort  Gate  Georg  ordered  Captain  von  i 
Warmond  to  be  waked,  and  introduced  Nicolas  to  him  ] 
as  a  future  Beggar.  The  captain  congratulated  the  boy  ] 
and  offered  him  money  to  supply  himself  in  Delft  with  \ 
whatever  he  needed,  and  defray  his  expenses  during  the  j 
first  few  weeks  ;  but  Nicolas  rejected  his  wealthy  friend's  i 
offer,  for  a  purse  filled  with  gold  coins  hung  at  his  girdle.  : 
A  jeweller  in  the  Hague  had  given  them  to  him  yester-  \ 
day  in  payment  for  Fraulein  Van  Hoogstraten's  emerald  ; 
ring. 


THE    BURGOMASTER  S    WIFE.  323 

Nicolas  showed  the  captain  his  treasure,  and  then 
exclaimed : 

"  Now  forward,  Junker  von  Domburg,  I  know 
where  we  shall  find  them ;  and  you.  Captain  Van  Dui- 
venvoorde,  tell  the  burgomaster  and  Janus  Dousa  what 
has  become  of  me." 


CHAPTER  XXXIl. 

A  WEEK  had  elapsed  since  Henrica's  flight,  and 
with  it  a  series  of  days  of  severe  privation.  Maria 
knew  from  the  musician,  that  young  Matanesse  had 
accompanied  Georg,  and  that  the  latter  was  on  his  way 
to  the  Beggars.  This  was  the  right  plan.  The  bubbling 
brook  belonged  to  the  wild,  rushing,  mighty  river.  She 
wished  him  happiness,  life  and  pleasure ;  but — strange — 
since  the  hour  that  she  tore  his  verses,  the  remem- 
brance of  him  had  receeded  as  far  as  in  the  days 
before  the  approach  of  the  Spaniards.  Nay,  after  her 
hard-won  conquest  of  herself  and  his  departure,  a  rare 
sense  of  happiness,  amid  all  her  cares  and  troubles,  had 
taken  possession  of  the  young  wife's  heart.  She  had 
been  cruel  to  herself,  and  the  inner  light  of  the  clear 
diamond  first  gleams  forth  with  the  right  brilliancy,  after 
it  has  endured  the  torture  of  polishing.  She  now  felt 
with  joyous  gratitude,  that  she  could  look  Peter  frankly 
in  the  eye,  grant  him  love,  and  ask  love  in  return.  He 
scarcely  seemed  to  notice  her  and  her  management  un- 
der the  burden  of  his  cares,  but  she  felt,  that  many  things 
she  said  and  could  do  for  him  pleased  him.  The  young 
wife  did  not  suffer  specially  from  the  long  famine,  while 


324  THE    BURGOMASTERS    WIFE. 

it  caused  Barbara  pain  and  unstrung  her  vigorous  frame. 
Amid  so  much  suffering,  she  often  sunk  into  despair  be- 
fore the  cold  hearth  and  empty  pots,  and  no  longer 
thought  it  worth  while  to  plait  her  large  cap  and  ruffs. 
It  was  now  Maria's  turn  to  speak  words  of  comfort,  and 
remind  her  of  her  son,  the  Beggar  captain,  who  would 
soon  enter  Leyden. 

On  the  sixth  of  September  the  burgomaster's  wife 
was  returning  home  from  an  early  walk.  Autumn  mists 
darkened  the  air,  and  the  sea-breeze  drove  a  fine,  driz- 
zling spray  through  the  streets.  The  dripping  trees  had 
long  since  been  robbed  of  their  leaves,  not  by  wind  and 
storm,  but  by  children  and  adults,  who  had  carried  the 
caterpillars'  food  to  their  kitchens  as  precious  vegetables. 

At  the  Schagensteg  Maria  saw  Adrian,  and  overtook 
him.  The  boy  was  sauntering  idly  along,  counting  aloud. 
The  burgomaster's  wife  called  to  him,  and  asked  why 
he  was  not  at  school  and  what  he  was  doing  there. 

"I'm  counting,"  was  the  reply.  "Now  there  are 
nine." 

"Nine?" 

"  I've  met  nine  dead  bodies  so  far;  the  rector  sent 
us  home.  Master  Dirks  is  dead,  and  there  were  only 
thirteen  of  us  to-day.  There  are  some  people  bringing 
another  one." 

Maria  drew  her  kerchief  tighter  and  walked  on.  At 
her  left  hand  stood  a  tall,  narrow  house,  in  which  lived  a 
cobbler,  a  jovial  man,  over  whose  door  were  two  in- 
scriptions.    One  ran  as  follows: 

• '  Here  are  shoes  for  sale, 

Round  above  and  flat  below ; 
If  David's  foot  they  will  not  fit, 
Goliath's  sure  they'll  suit,  I  know." 


THE    burgomaster's    WIFE.  325 

The  other  was: 

"  When  through  the  desert  roved  the  Jews, 
Their  shoes  for  forty  years  they  wore, 
Were  the  same  custom  now  in  use, 

'Prentice  would  ne'er  seek  cobbler's  door." 

On  the  ridge  of  the  lofty  house  was  the  stork's  nest, 
now  empty.  The  red-billed  guests  did  not  usually  set 
out  on  their  journey  to  the  south  so  early,  and  some 
were  still  in  Ley  den,  standing  on  the  roofs  as  if  lost  in 
thought.  What  could  have  become  of  the  cobbler's  be- 
loved lodgers?  At  noon  the  day  before,  their  host,  who 
in  March  usually  fastened  the  luck-bringing  nest  firmly 
with  his  own  hands,  had  stolen  up  to  the  roof,  and  with 
his  cross-bow  shot  first  the  little  wife  and  then  the  hus- 
band. It  was  a  hard  task,  and  his  wife  sat  weeping  in 
the  kitchen  while  the  evil  deed  was  done,  but  whoever 
is  tormented  by  the  fierce  pangs  of  hunger  and  sees  his 
dear  ones  dying  of  want,  doesn't  think  of  old  affection  * 
and  future  good  fortune,  but  seeks  deliverance  at  the 
present  time. 

The  storks  had  been  sacrificed  too  late,  for  the  cob- 
bler's son,  his  growing  apprentice,  had  closed  his  eyes 
the  night  before  for  his  eternal  sleep.  Loud  lamenta- 
tions reached  Maria's  ear  from  the  open  door  of  the 
shop,  and  Adrian  said:  "Jacob  is  dead,  and  Mabel  is 
very  sick.  This  morning  their  father  cursed  me  on 
father's  account,  saying  it  was  his  fault  that  everything 
was  going  to  destruction.  Will  there  be  no  bread  again 
to-day,  mother?  Barbara  has  some  biscuit,  and  I  feel  so 
sick.     I  can't  swallow  the  everlasting  meal  any  longer." 

"Perhaps  there  will  be  a  slice.  We  must  save  the 
baked  food,  child." 

In  the  entry  of  her  house  Maria  found  a  man-servant, 


326  THE    burgomaster's    WIFE. 

clad  in  black.  He  had  come  to  announce  the  death  of 
Commissioner  Dietrich  Van  Bronkhorst.  The  plague 
had  ended  the  strong  man's  life  on  the  evening  of  the 
day  before,  Sunday. 

Maria  already  knew  of  this  heavy  loss,  which  threw 
the  whole  responsibility  of  everything,  that  now  hap- 
pened, upon  her  husband's  shoulders.  She  had  also 
learned  that  a  letter  had  been  received  from  Valdez,  in 
which  he  had  pledged  his  word  of  honor  as  a  nobleman, 
to  spare  the  city,  if  it  would  surrender  itself  to  the  king's 
"  mercy,"  and  especially  to  grant  Burgomaster  Van  der 
Werff,.  Herr  Van  der  Does,  and  the  other  supporters  of 
the  rebellion,  free  passage  through  the  Spanish  lines. 
The  CastiHans  would  retire  and  Leyden  should  be  gar- 
risoned only  by  a  few  German  troops.  He  invited  Van 
der  Werff  and  Herr  von  Nordwyk  to  come  to  Leyder- 
dorp  as  ambassadors,  and  in  any  case,  even  if  the  nego- 
tiations failed,  agreed  to  send  them  home  uninjured 
under  a  safe  escort.  Maria  knew  that  her  husband  had 
appointed  that  day  for  a  great  assembly  of  the  council, 
the  magistrates,  and  all  the  principal  men  in  the  city,  as 
well  as  the  captains  of  the  city-guard — but  not  a  word 
of  all  this  had  reached  her  ears  from  Peter.  She  had 
heard  the  news  from  Frau  Van  Hout  and  the  wives  of 
other  citizens. 

During  the  last  few  days  a  great  change  had  taken 
place  in  her  husband.  He  went  out  and  returned  with 
a  palHd,  gloomy  face.  Taciturn  and  wasting  away  with 
anxiety,  he  withdrew  from  the  members  of  his  family 
even  when  at  home,  repelling  his  wife  curtly  and  impa- 
tiently when,  yielding  to  the  impulse  of  her  heart,  she 
approached  him  with  encouraging  words.  Night  brought 
him  no  sleep,  and  he  left  his  couch   before  morning 


THE    BURGOMASTERS    WIFE.  327 

dawned,  to  pace  restlessly  to  and  fro,  or  gaze  at  Bessie, 
who  to  him  alone  still  tried  to  show  recognition  by  a 
faint  smile. 

When  Maria  returned  home,  she  instantly  went  to 
the  child  and  found  Doctor  Bontius  with  her.  The 
physician  shook  his  head  at  her  appearance,  and  said  the 
delicate  little  creature's  life  would  soon  be  over.  Her 
stomach  had  been  injured  during  the  first  months  of 
want ;  now  it  refused  to  do  its  office,  and  to  hope  for 
recovery  would  be  folly. 

"  She  must  hve,  she  must  not  die !"  cried  Maria, 
frantic  with  grief  and  yet  full  of  hope,  like  a  true  mother, 
who  cannot  grasp  the  thought  that  she  is  condemned 
to  lose  her  child,  even  when  the  little  heart  is  already 
ceasing  to  beat  and  the  bright  eyes  are  growing  dim  and 
closing.  "  Bessie,  Bessie,  look  at  me !  Bessie,  take 
this  nice  milk.  Only  a  few  drops !  Bessie,  Bessie,  you 
must  not  die." 

Peter  had  entered  the  room  unobserved  and  heard 
the  last  words.  Holding  his  breath,  he  gazed  down  at 
his  darhng,  his  broad  shoulders  shook,  and  in  a  stifled, 
faltering  voice  he  asked  the  physician :  "  Must  she 
die  ?" 

"  Yes,  old  friend ;  I  think  so  !  Hold  up  your  head  J 
You  have  much  still  left  you.  All  five  of  Van  Loo's 
children  have  died  of  the  plague." 

Peter  shuddered,  and  without  taking  any  notice  of 
Maria,  passed  from  the  room  with  drooping  head. 

Bontius  followed  him  into  his  study,  laid  his  hand 
on  his  arm,  and  said : 

''  Our  little  remnant  of  life  is  made  bitter  to  us, 
Peter.  Barbara  says  a  corpse  was  laid  before  your  door 
early  this  morning." 


328  THE    burgomaster's    WIFE. 

*^  Yes.  When  I  went  out,  the  Hvid  face  offered  me  a 
Tinorning  greeting.  It  was  a  young  person.  All  whom 
death  mows  down,  the  people  lay  to  my  charge. 
Wherever  one  looks — corpses  !  Whatever  one  hears — 
<:urses !  Have  I  authority  over  so  many  lives  ?  Day 
;and  night  nothing  but  sorrow  and  death  before  my 
'eyes;  —  and  yet,  yet,  yet — oh  God!  save  me  from 
madness ! " 

Peter  clasped  both  hands  over  his  brow ;  but  Bontius 
found  no  word  of  comfort,  and  merely  exclaimed  : 

"  And  1,  and  I  ?  My  wife  and  child  ill  with  a  fever, 
^day  and  night  on  my  feet,  not  to  cure,  but  to  see  people 
<iie.  What  has  been  learned  by  hard  study  becomes 
'Childish  folly  in  these  days,  and  yet  the  poor  creatures 
iutter  a  sigh  of  hope  when  I  feel  their  pulses.  But  this 
'Can't  go  on,  this  can't  go  on.  Day  before  yesterday 
-.seventy,  yesterday  eighty-six  deaths,  and  among  them 
two  of  my  colleagues." 

"  And  no  prospect  of  improvement  ?" 

^^  To-morrow  the  ninety  will  become  a  hundred — the 
one  hundred  will  become  two,  three,  four,  five,  until  at 
last  one  individual  will  be  left,  for  whom  there  will  be 
no  grave-digger." 

"  The  pest-houses  are  closed,  and  we  still  have  cattle 
and  horses." 

*'  But  the  pestilence  creeps  through  the  joints,  and 
since  the  last  loaf  of  bread  and  the  last  malt-cake  have 
been  divided,  and  there  is  nothing  for  the  people  to  eat 
except  meat,  meat,  and  nothing  else — one  tiny  piece  for 
the  whole  day — disease  is  piled  on  disease  in  forms 
utterly  unprecedented,  of  which  no  book  speaks,  for 
which  no  remedy  has  yet  been  discovered.  This  draw- 
ing water  with  a  bottomless  pitcher  is  beginning  to  be 


THE    burgomaster's    WIFE.  329 

too  much  for  me.  My  brain  is  no  stronger  than  yours. 
Farewell  until  to-morrow." 

*^  To-day,  to-day !  You  are  coming  to  the  meeting 
at  the  town-hall  ?" 

*' Certainly  not!  Do  what  you  can  justify;  I  shall 
practise  my  profession,  which  now  means  the  same 
thing  as  saying :  *  I  shall  continue  to  close  eyes  and 
hold  coroner's  inquests.'  If  things  go  on  so,  there  will 
soon  be  an  end  to  practice." 

*'  Once  for  all :  if  you  were  in  my  place,  you  would 
treat  with  Valdez  ?" 

**  In  your  place  ?  I  am  not  you ;  I  am  a  physician, 
one  who  has  nothing  to  do  except  to  take  the  field 
against  suifering  and  death.  You,  since  Bronkhorst's 
death,  are  the  providence  of  the  city.  Supply  a  bit  of 
bread,  if  only  as  large  as  my  hand,  in  addition  to  the 
meat,  or — I  love  my  native  land  and  liberty  as  well  as 
any  one — or — " 

'^Or?" 

**  Or — ^leave  Death  to  reap  his  narvest,  you  are  no 
physician." 

Bontius  bade  his  friend  farewell  and  left  him,  but 
Peter  thrust  his  hand  through  his  hair  and  stood  gazing 
out  of  the  window,  until  Barbara  entered,  laid  his 
official  costume  on  a  chair  and  asked  with  feigned  care- 
lessness : 

*'  May  I  give  Adrain  some  of  the  last  biscuit  ?  Meat 
is  repulsive  to  him.  He's  lying  on  the  bed,  writhing  in 
pain." 

Peter  turned  pale,  and  said  in  a  hollow  tone : 

**  Give  it  to  him  and  call  the  doctor." 

'^  Maria  and  Bontius  are  already  with  him." 

The  burgomaster   changed   his  clothing,  feeling  a 


Z^O  THE    burgomaster's    WIFE. 

thrill  of  fierce  indignation  against  every  article  he  put  on. 
To-day  the  superb  costume  was  as  hateful  to  him  as  the 
office,  which  gave  him  the  right  to  wear  it,  and  which^ 
until  a  few  weeks  ago,  he  had  occupied  with  a  joyous 
sense  of  confidence  in  himself 

Before  leaving  the  house,  he  sought  Adrian.  The 
boy  was  lying  in  Barbara's  room,  complaining  of  vio- 
lent pains,  and  asking  if  he  must  die  too. 

Peter  shook  his  head,  but  Maria  kissed  him,  ex- 
claiming : 

*'  No,  certainly  not." 

The  burgomaster's  time  was  limited.  His  wife  stop- 
ped him  in  the  entry,  but  he  hurried  down-stairs  without 
hearing  what  she  called  after  him. 

The  young  wife  returned  to  Adrian's  bedside,  think- 
ing anxiously  of  the  speedy  death  of  many  comrades  of 
the  dear  boy,  whose  damp  hand  rested  in  hers.  She 
thought  of  Bessie,  followed  Peter  in  imagination  to  the 
town-hall,  and  heard  his  powerful  voice  contending  for 
resistance  to  the  last  man  and  the  last  pound  of  meat; 
nay,  she  could  place  herself  by  his  side,  for  she  knew 
what  was  to  come :  To  stand  fast,  stand  fast  for  liberty, 
and  if  God  so  willed,  die  a  martyr's  death  for  it  like 
Jacoba,  Leonhard,  and  Peter's  noble  father. 

One  anxious  hour  followed  another. 

When  Adrian  began  to  feel  better,  she  went  to  Bes- 
sie, who  pale  and  inanimate,  seemed  to  be  gently  fading 
away,  and  only  now  and  then  raised  her  little  finger  to 
play  with  her  dry  lips. 

Oh,  the  pretty,  withering  human  flower !  How 
closely  the  little  girl  had  grown  into  her  heart,  how  im- 
possible it  seemed  to  give  her  up !  With  tearful  eyes^ 
she  pressed  her  forehead  on  her  clasped  hands,  which 


THE    BURGOMASTER'S    WIFE.  33! 

rested  on  the  head-board  of  the  little  bed,  and  fervently- 
implored  God  to  spare  and  save  this  child.  Again  and 
again  she  repeated  the  prayer,  but  when  Bessie's  dim 
eyes  no  longer  met  hers  and  her  hands  fell  into  her  lap, 
she  could  not  help  thinking  of  Peter,  the  assembly,  the 
fate  of  the  city,  and  the  words:  "Leyden  saved,  Hol- 
land saved !  Leyden  lost,  all  is  lost !" 

So  the  hours  passed  until  the  gloomy  day  wore 
away  into  twiHght,  and  twilight  was  followed  by  even- 
ing. Trautchen  brought  in  the  lamp,  and  at  last  Peter's 
step  was  heard  on  the  stairs. 

It  must  be  he,  and  yet  it  was  not,  for  he  never  came 
up  with  such  slow  and  dragging  feet. 

Then  the  study  door  opened. 

It  was  he ! 

What  could  have  happened,  what  had  the  citizens 
determined? 

With  an  anxious  heart,  she  told  Trautchen  to  stay 
with  the  child,  and  then  went  to  her  husband. 

Peter  sat  at  the  writing-table  in  full  official  uniform,, 
with  his  hat  still  on  his  head.  His  face  lay  buried  on 
his  folded  arms,  beside  the  sconce. 

He  saw  nothing,  heard  nothing,  and  when  she  at 
last  called  him,  started,  sprang  up  and  flung  his  hat 
violently  on  the  table.  His  hair  was  dishevelled,  his 
glance  restless,  and  in  the  faint  light  of  the  glimmering 
candles  his  cheeks  looked  deadly  pale. 

"  What  do  you  want  ?"  he  asked  curtly,  in  a  harsh 
voice;  but  for  a  time  Maria  made  no  reply,  fear  para- 
lyzed her  tongue. 

At  last  she  found  words,  and  deep  anxiety  was  ap- 
parent in  her  question  : 

"  What  has  happened  ?" 


332  THE  burgomaster's  wife. 

''  The  beginning  of  the  end,"  he  answered  in  a  hol- 
low tone. 

"  They  have  out-voted  you  ?"  cried  the  young  wife. 
^'  Baersdorp  and  the  other  cowards  want  to  negotiate?" 

Peter  drew  himself  up  to  his  full  height,  and  ex- 
claimed in  a  loud,  threatening  tone : 

"  Guard  your  tongue!  He  who  remains  steadfast  un- 
til his  children  die  and  corpses  bar  the  way  in  front  of 
his  own  house,  he  who  bears  the  responsibility  of  a 
thousand  deaths,  endures  curses  and  imprecations 
through  long  weeks,  and  has  vainly  hoped  for  deliver- 
ance during  more  than  a  third  of  a  year — he  who,  wher- 
ever he  looks,  sees  nothing  save  unprecedented,  con- 
stantly increasing  misery  and  then  no  longer  repels  the 
saving  hand  of  the  foe — " 

"  Is  a  coward,  a  traitor,  who  breaks  the  sacred  oath 
he  has  sworn." 

"  Maria,"  cried  Peter  angrily,  approaching  with  a 
threatening  gesture. 

She  drew  her  slender  figure  up  to  its  full  height  and 
with  quickened  breath  awaited  him,  pointing  her  finger 
at  him,  as  she  exclaimed  with  a  sharp  tone  perceptible 
through  the  sHght  tremor  in  her  voice : 

"  You,  you  have  voted  with  the  Baersdorps,  you^ 
Peter  Van  der  Werff!  You  have  done  this  thing,  you, 
the  friend  of  the  Prince,  the  shield  and  providence  of 
this  brave  city,  you,  the  man  who  received  the  oaths  of 
the  citizens,  the  martyr's  son,  the  servant  of  liberty — " 

"  No  more !"  he  interrupted,  trembling  with  shame 
and  rage.  *'  Do  you  know  what  it  is  to  bear  the  guilt 
of  this  most  terrible  suffering  before  God  and  men  ?" 

^'  Yes,  yes,  thrice  yes ;  it  is  laying  one's  heart  on  the 
rack,  to  save  Holland  and   liberty.     That  is  what  it 


THE    BURGOMASTER  S    WIFE.  335 

means !  Oh,  God,  my  God  !  You  are  lost !  You  intend 
to  negotiate  with  Valdez !" 

"  And  suppose  I  do  ?"  asked  the  burgomaster,  with 
an  angry  gesture. 

Maria  looked  him  sternly  in  the  eye,  and  exclaimed 
in  a  loud,  resolute  tone  : 

"  Then  it  will  be  my  turn  to  say :  Go  to  Delft ;  we 
need  different  men  here.'* 

The  burgomaster  turned  pale  and  bent  his  eyes  on 
the  floor,  while  she  fearlessly  confronted  him  with  a 
steady  glance. 

The  hght  fell  full  upon  her  glowing  face,  and  when 
Peter  again  raised  his  eyes,  it  seemed  as  if  the  same 
Maria  stood  before  him,  who  as  a  bride  had  vowed  to 
share  trouble  and  peril  with  him,  remain  steadfast  in  the 
struggle  for  liberty  to  the  end;  he  felt  that  his  *' child" 
Maria  had  grown  to  his  own  height  and  above  him, 
recognized  for  the  first  time  in  the  proud  woman  before 
him  his  companion  in  conflict,  his  high-hearted  helper 
in  distress  and  danger.  An  overmastering  yearning, 
mightier  than  any  emotion  ever  experienced  before, 
surged  through  his  soul,  impelled  him  towards  her,  and 
found  utterance  in  the  words : 

**  Maria,  Maria,  my  wife,  my  guardian  angel !  We 
have  written  to  Valdez,  but  there  is  still  time,  nothing 
binds  me  yet,  and  with  you,  with  you  I  will  stand  firm 
to  the  end.' 

Then,  in  the  midst  of  these  days  of  woe,  she  threw 
herself  on  his  breast,  crying  aloud  in  the  abundance  of 
this  new,  unexpected,  unutterable  happiness : 

"With  you,  one  with  you  —  forever,  unto  death,  in 
conflict  and  in  love  ! " 


334  THE  burgomaster's  wife. 


CHAPTER    XXXIII. 


Peter  felt  animated  with  new  life.  A  fresh  store  of 
courage  and  enthusiasm  filled  his  breast,  for  he  constantly 
received  a  new  supply  from  the  stout-hearted  woman  by 
his  side. 

Under  the  pressure  of  the  terrible  responsibility  he 
endured,  and  urged  by  his  fellow-magistrates,  he  had 
consented,  at  the  meeting  of  the  council,  to  write  to 
Valdez  and  ask  him  to  give  free  passage  to  embassadors, 
who  were  to  entreat  the  estates  and  the  Prince  of  Orange 
to  release  the  tortured  city  from  her  oath. 

Valdez  made  every  effort  to  induce  the  burgomaster 
to  enter  into  farther  negotiations,  but  the  latter  remained 
firm,  and  no  petition  for  release  from  the  sacred  duty  of 
resistance  left  the  city.  The  two  Van  der  Does,  Van 
Hout,  Junker  von  Warmond,  and  other  resolute  men, 
who  had  already,  in  the  great  assembly,  denounced  any 
intercourse  with  the  enemy,  now  valiantly  supported 
him  against  his  fellow-magistrates  and  the  council,  that 
with  the  exception  of  seven  of  its  members,  persistently 
and  vehemently  urged  the  commencement  of  negotia- 
tions. 

Adrian  rapidly  recovered,  but  Doctor  Bontius's  pre- 
diction was  terribly  fulfilled,  for  famine  and  pestilence 
vied  with  each  other  in  horrible  fury,  and  destroyed 
almost  half  of  all  the  inhabitants  of  the  flourishing  city. 
Intense  was  the  gloom,  dark  the  sky,  yet  even  amidst 
the  cruel  woe  there  was  many  an  hour  in  which  bright 
sunshine  illumined  souls,  and  hope  unfurled  her  green 


THE    BURGOMASTER^S    WIFE.  335 

banner.  The  citizens  of  Leyden  rose  from  their 
couches  more  joyously,  than  a  bride  roused  by  the 
singing  of  her  companions  on  her  wedding-day,  when 
on  the  morning  of  September  eleventh  loud  and  long- 
continued  cannonading  was  heard  from  the  distance, 
and  the  sky  became  suffused  with  a  crimson  glow.  The 
villages  southwest  of  the  city  were  burning.  Every 
house,  every  barn  that  sunk  into  ashes,  burying  the 
property  of  honest  men,  was  a  bonfire  to  the  despairing 
citizens. 

The  Beggars  were  approaching ! 

Yonder,  where  the  cannon  thundered  and  the  hori- 
zon glowed,  lay  the  Land-scheiding,  the  bulwark  which 
for  centuries  had  guarded  the  plains  surrounding  Ley- 
den from  the  assaults  of  the  waves,  and  now  barred  the 
way  of  the  fleet  bringing  assistance. 

"  Fall,  protecting  walls,  rise,  tempest,  swallow  thy 
prey,  raging  sea,  destroy  the  property  of  the  husband- 
man, ruin  our  fields  and  meadows,  but  drown  the  foe  or 
drive  him  hence."  So  sang  Janus  Dousa,  so  rang  a  voice 
in  Peter's  soul,  so  prayed  Maria,  and  with  her  thousands 
of  men  and  women. 

But  the  glow  in  the  horizon  died  .away,  the  firing 
ceased.  A  second  day  elapsed,  a  third  and  fourth,  but 
no  messenger  arrived,  no  Beggar  ship  appeared,  and  the 
sea  seemed  to  lie  calm ;  but  another  terrible  power  in- 
creased, moving  with  mysterious,  stealthy,  irresistible 
might ;  Death,  with  his  pale  companions.  Despair  and 
Famine. 

The  dead  were  borne  secretly  to  their  graves  under 
cover  of  the  darkness  of  night,  to  save  their  scanty  ra- 
tion for  the  survivors,  in  the  division  of  food.  The  angel 
of  death  flew  from  house  to  house,  touched  pretty  little 


;^^6  THE  burgomaster's  wife. 

Bessie's  heart,  and  kissed  her  closed  eyes  while  she 
slumbered  in  die  quiet  night. 

The  faint-hearted  and  the  Spanish  sympathizers 
raised  their  heads  and  assembled  in  bands,  one  of  which 
forced  a  passage  into  the  council-chamber  and  demanded 
bread.  But  not  a  crumb  remained,  and  the  magistrates 
had  nothing  more  to  distribute  except  a  small  portion  of 
cow  and  horse-flesh,  and  boiled  and  salted  hides. 

During  this  period  of  the  sorest  distress,  Van  der 
WerfF  was  passing  down  the  '^  broad  street."  He  did 
not  notice  that  a  throng  of  desperate  men  and  women 
were  pursuing  him  with  threats;  but  as  he  turned  to 
■  enter  Van  Hout's  house,  suddenly  found  himself  sur- 
rounded. A  pallid  woman,  with  her  dying  child  in  her 
arms,  threw  herself  before  him,  held  out  the  expiring 
infant,  and  cried  in  hollow  tones :  "  Let  this  be  enough, 
let  this  be  enough — see  here,  see  this;  it  is  the  third. 
Let  this  be  enough!" 

"  Enough,  enough  !  Bread,  bread !  Give  us  bread !  '* 
was  shrieked  and  shouted  around  him,  and  threatening 
weapons  and  stones  were  raised;  but  a  carpenter,  whom 
he  knew,  and  who  had  hitherto  faithfully  upheld  the 
good  cause,  advanced  saying  in  measured  accents,  in  his 
deep  voice  :  "  This  can  go  on  no  longer.  We  have 
patiently  borne  hunger  and  distress  in  fighting  against 
the  Spaniards-  and  for  our  Bible,  but  to  struggle  against 
certain  death  is  madness." 

Peter,  pale  and  agitated,  gazed  at  the  mother,  the 
child,  the  sturdy  workman  and  the  threatening,  shriek- 
ing mob.  The  common  distress,  which  afllicted  them 
and  so  many  starving  people,  oppressed  his  soul  with  a 
thousand-fold  greater  power.  He  would  fain  have 
drawn  them  all  to  his  heart,  as  brothers  in  misfortune, 


THE    BURGOMASTER'S    WIFE.  337 

companions  of  a  future,  worthier  existence.  With  deep 
emotion,  he  looked  from  one  to  the  other,  then  pressed 
his  hand  upon  his  breast  and  called  to  the  crowd,  which 
thronged  around  him : 

"  Here  I  stand.  I  have  sworn  to  faithfully  endure 
to  the  end ;  and  you  did  so  with  me.  I  will  not  break 
my  oath,  but  I  can  die.  If  my  life  will  serve  you,  here 
I  am !  I  have  no  bread,  but  here,  here  is  my  body. 
Take  it,  lay  hands  on  me,  tear  me  to  pieces.  Here  I 
stand,  here  I  stand.     I  will  keep  my  oath." 

The  carpenter  bent  his  head,  and  said  in  a  hollow 
tone :  "  Come,  people,  let  God's  will  be  done ;  we 
have  sworn." 

The  burgomaster  quietly  entered  his  friend's  house. 
Frau  Van  Hout  had  seen  and  heard  all  this,  and  on  the 
very  same  day  told  the  story  to  Maria,  her  eyes  spark- 
ling brightly  as  she  exclaimed :  "  Never  did  I  see  any 
man  so  noble  as  he  was  in  that  hour !  It  is  well  for  us, 
that  he  rules  within  these  walls.  Never  will  our  children 
and  children's  children  forget  this  deed." 

They  have  treasured  it  in  their  memories,  and  during 
the  night  succeeding  the  day  on  which  the  burgomaster 
acted  so  manly  a  part,  a  letter  arrived  from  the  Prince, 
full  of  joyous  and  encouraging  news.  The  noble  man 
had  recovered,  and  was  striving  with  all  his  power  to 
rescue  brave  Ley  den.  The  Beggars  had  cut  the  Land- 
scheiding,  their  vessels  were  pressing  onward — help  was 
approaching,  and  the  faithful  citizen  who  brought  the 
letter,  had  seen  with  his  own  eyes  the  fleet  bringing 
relief  and  the  champions  of  freedom,  glowing  with 
martial  ardor.  The  two  Van  der  Does,  by  the  same 
letter,  were  appointed  the  Prince's  commissioners  in 
place  of  the  late  Herr  Van  Bronkhorst.     Van  der  Werff 


;^^S  THE  burgomaster's  wife. 

no  longer  stood  alone,  and  when  the  next  morning 
^^  Father  William's  "  letter  was  read  aloud  and  the  mes- 
senger's news  spread  abroad,  the  courage  and  confidence 
of  the  tortured  citizens  rose  like  withering,  grass  after  a 
refreshing  rain. 

But  they  were  still  condemned  to  long  weeks  of 
anxiety  and  suffering. 

During  the  last  days  of  September  they  were  forced 
to  slaughter  the  cows  hitherto  spared  for  the  infants  and 
young  mothers,  and  then,  then  ? 

Help  was  close  at  hand,  for  the  sky  often  reddened, 
and  the  air  was  shaken  by  the  roar  of  distant  cannon ; 
but  the  east  wind  continued  to  prevail,  driving  back  the 
water  let  in  upon  the  land,  and  the  vessels  needed  a 
rising  flood  to  approach  the  city. 

Not  one  of  all  the  messengers,  who  had  been  sent 
out,  returned;  there  was  nothing  certain,  save  the  cruelly 
increasing  unendurable  suffering.  Even  Barbara  had 
succumbed,  and  complained  of  weakness  and  loathing 
of  the  ordinary  food. 

Maria  thought  of  the  roast-pigeon,  which  had 
agreed  with  Bessie  so  well,  and  went  to  the  musician,  to 
ask  if  he  could  sacrifice  another  of  his  pets  for  her  sis- 
ter-in-law. 

Wilhelm's  ni other  received  the  burgomaster's  wife. 
The  old  lady  was  sitting  wearily  in  an  arm-chair;  she 
could  still  walk,  but  amid  her  anxiety  and  distress  a 
strange  twitching  had  affected  her  hands.  When  Maria 
made  her  request,  she  shook  her  head,  saying :  "  Ask 
him  yourself  He's  obliged  to  keep  the  little  creatures 
shut  up,  for  whenever  they  appear,  the  poor  starving 
people  shoot  at  them.  There  are  only  three  left.  The 
messengers  took  the  others,  and  they  haven't  returned. 


THE    burgomaster's    WIFE.  339 

Thank  God  for  it;  the  Httle  food  he  still  has,  will  do 
more  good  in  dishes,  than  in  their  crops.  Would  you 
believe  it  ?  A  fortnight  ago  he  paid  fifty  florins  out  of 
his  savings  for  half  a  sack  of  peas,  and  Heaven  knows 
where  he  found  them.  Ulrich,  Ulrich !  Take  Frau  Van 
der  Werff  up  to  Wilhelm.  I'd  willingly  spare  you  the. 
climb,  but  he's  watching  for  the  carrier-pigeons  that 
have  been  sent  out,  and  won't  even  come  down  to  his 
meals.  To  be  sure,  they  would  hardly  be  worth  the 
trouble !" 

It  was  a  clear,  sunny  day.  Wilhelm  was  standing 
in  his  look-out,  gazing  over  the  green,  watery  plain,  that 
lay  out-spread  below  him,  towards  the  south.  Behind 
him  sat  Andreas,  the  fencing-master's  fatherless  boy, 
writing  notes,  but  his  attention  was  not  fixed  on  his 
work ;  for  as  soon  as  he  had  finished  a  line  he  too  gazed 
towards  the  horizon,  watching  for  the  pigeon  his  teacher 
expected.  He  did  not  look  particularly  emaciated,  for 
many  a  grain  of  the  doves'  food  had  been  secretly  added 
to  his  scanty  ration  of  meat. 

Wilhelm  showed  that  he  felt  both  surprised  and 
honored  by  P>au  Van  der  Werff's  visit,  and  even  prom- 
ised to  grant  her  request,  though  it  was  evident  that  the 
^'saying  yes"  was  by  no  means  easy  for  him. 

The  young  wife  went  out  on  the  balcony  with  him, 
and  he  showed  her  in  the  south,  where  usually  nothing 
but  a  green  plain  met  the  eye,  a  wide  expanse  over 
which  a  light  mist  was  hovering.  The  noon  sun  seemed 
to  steep  the  white  vapor  with  light,  and  lure  it  upward 
by  its  ardent  rays.  This  was  the  water  streaming 
through  the  broken  dyke,  and  the  black  oblong  specks 
moving  along  its  edges  were  the  Spanish  troops  and 
herds  of  cattle,  that  had  retreated  before  the  advancing 


340  THE  burgomaster's  wife. 

flood  from  the  outer  fortifications,  villages  and  hamlets. 
The  Land-scheiding  itself  was  not  visible,  but  the  Beg- 
gars had  already  passed  it.  If  the  fleet  succeeded  in 
reaching  the  Zoetermere  Lake  and  from  thence. — 

Wilhelm  suddenly  interrupted  his  explanation,  for 
Andreas  had  suddenly  started  up,  upsetting  his  stool^ 
and  exclaimed : 

"  It's  coming  !  The  dove !  Roland,  my  fore  man^ 
there  it  comes !" 

For  the  first  time  Wilhelm  heard  the  boy's  lips  ut- 
ter his  father's  exclamation.  Some  great  emotion  must 
have  stirred  his  heart,  and  in  truth  he  was  not  mistaken; 
the  speck  piercing  the  air,  which  his  keen  eye  had  dis- 
covered, was  no  longer  a  mere  spot,  but  an  oblong 
something — a  bird,  the  pigeon  ! 

Wilhelm  seized  the  flag  on  the  balcony,  and  waved 
it  as  joyously  as  ever  conqueror  unfurled  his  banner 
after  a  hard-won  fight.  The  dove  came  nearer — 
alighted,  slipped  into  the  cote,  and  a  few  minutes  after 
the  musician  ai)peared  with  a  tiny  letter. 

"  To  the  magistrates  !"  cried  Wilhelm.  ''  Take  it  to 
your  husband  at  once.  Oh !  dear  lady,  dear  lady,  finish 
what  the  dove  has  begun.  Thank  God !  thank  God ! 
they  are  already  at  North-Aa.  This  will  save  the  poor 
people  from  despair !  And  now  one  ^hing  more !  You 
shall  have  the  roasted  bird,  but  take  this  grain  too ;  a 
barley-porridge  is  the  best  medicine  for  Barbara's  con- 
dition ;  I've  tried  it !" 

When  evening  came,  and  the  musician  had  told  his 
parents  the  joyful  news,  he  ordered  the  blue  dove  with 
the  white  breast  to  be  caught.  "  Kill  it  outside  the 
house,"  said  he,  "  I  can't  bear  to  see  it." 

Andreas  soon  came  back  with  the  beheaded  pigeon. 


THE    BURGOMASTER  S    WIFE.  34I 

His  lips  were  bloody,  Wilhelm  knew  from  what,  yet  he 
did  not  reprove  the  hungry  boy,  but  merely  said : 

^'  Fie,  you  pole-cat !" 

Early  the  next  morning  a  second  dove  returned. 
The  letters  the  winged  messengers  had  brought  were 
read  aloud  from  the  windows  of  the  town -hall,  and  the 
courage  of  the  populace,  pressed  to  the  extremest  limits 
of  endurance,  flickered  up  anew  and  helped  them  bear 
their  misery.  One  of  the  letters  were  addressed  to  the 
magistrates,  the  other  to  Janus  Dousa ;  they  sounded 
confident  and  hopeful,  and  the  Prince,  the  faithful  shield 
of  liberty,  the  friend  and  guide  of  the  people,  had  re- 
covered from  his  sickness  and  visited  the  vessels  and 
troops  intended  for  the  relief  of  Ley  den.  Rescue  was 
so  near,  but  the  north-east  wind  would  not  change,  and 
the  water  did  not  rise.  Great  numbers  of  citizens,  sol- 
diers, magistrates  and  women  stood  on  the  citadel  and 
other  elevated  places,  gazing  into  the  distance. 

A  thousand  hands  were  clasped  in  fervent  prayer, 
and  the  eyes  of  all  were  turned  in  feverish  expectation 
and  eager  yearning  towards  the  south,  but  the  boundary 
line  of  the  waves  did  not  move ;  and  the  sun,  as  if  in 
mockery,  burst  cheerily  through  the  mists  of  the  autumn 
morning,  imparted  a  pleasant  warmth  to  the  keen  air, 
and  in  the  evening  sank  towards  the  west  in  the 
midst  of  radiant  light,  diffusing  its  golden  rays  far 
and  wide.  The  cloudless  blue  sky  arched  piti- 
lessly over  the  city,  and  at  night  glittered  with 
thousands  of  twinkling  stars.  Early  on  the  morning  of 
the  twenty-ninth  the  mists  grew  denser,  the  grass  re- 
mained dry,  the  fogs  lifted,  the  cool  air  changed  to  a 
sultry  atmosphere,  the  grey  clouds  piled  in  masses  on 
€ach  other,  and  grew  black  and  threatening.      A  light 


342  THE    burgomaster's    WIFE. 

breeze  rose,  stirring  the  leafless  branches  of  the  trees, 
then  a  sudden  gust  of  wind  swept  over  the  heads  of  the 
throngs  watching  the  distant  horizon.  A  second  and 
third  followed,  then  a  howling  tempest  roared  and  hissed 
without  cessation  through  the  city,  wrenching  tiles  from 
the  roofs,  twisting  the  fruit-trees  in  the  gardens  and  the 
young  elms  and  lindens  in  many  a  street,  tearing  away 
the  flags  the  boys  had  fastened  on  the  walls  in  defiance 
of  the  Spaniards,  lashing  the  still  waters  of  the  city  moat 
and  quiet  canals,  and — the  Lord  does  not  abandon  His 
own — and  the  vanes  turned,  the  storm  came  from  the 
north-west.  No  one  saw  the  result,  but  the  sailors 
shouted  the  tidings,  and  each  individual  caught  up  the 
words  and  bore  them  exultantly  on — the  hurricane  drove 
the  sea  into  the  mouth  of  the  Meuse,  forcing  back  the 
waves  of  the  river  by  its  fierce  assault,  driving  them 
over  its  banks  through  the  gaps  opened  in  the  dykes, 
and  the  gates  of  the  sluices,  and  bearing  forward  on 
their  towering  crests  the  vessels  bringing  deliverance. 

Roar,  roar,  thou  storm,  stream,  stream,  rushing  rain^ 
rage,  waves,  and  destroy  the  meadows,  swallow  up 
houses  and  villages !  Thousands  and  thousands  of 
people  on  the  walls  and  towers  of  Ley  den  hail  your 
approach,  behold  in  you  the  terrible  armies  of  the 
avenging  God,  exult  and  shout  a  joyous  welcome  ! 

For  two  successive  days  the  burgomaster,  Maria  and 
Adrian,  the  Van  der  Does  and  Van  Houts  stood  with 
brief  intervals  of  rest  among  the  throng  on  the  citadel  or 
the  tower  at  the  Cow-Gate;  even  Barbara,  far  more 
strengthened  by  hope  than  by  the  barley-porridge  or  the 
lean  carrier-pigeon,  would  not  stay  at  home,  but  dragged 
herself  to  the  musician's  look-out,  for  every  one  wanted 
to  see  the  rising  water,  the  earth  softening,  the  moisture 


THE    BURGOMASTERS    WIFE.  343 

creeping  between  the  blades  of  grass,  then  spreading 
into  pools  and  ponds,  until  at  last  there  was  a  wide 
expanse  of  water,  on  which  bubbles  rose,  burst  under 
the  descending  rain,  and  formed  ever-widening  circles. 
Every  one  wanted  to  watch  the  Spaniards,  hurrying 
hither  and  thither  like  sheep  pursued  by  a  wolf.  Every 
one  wanted  to  hear  the  thunder  of  the  Beggars*  cannon, 
the  rattle  of  their  arquebuses  and  muskets;  men  and 
women  thought  the  tempest  that  threatened  to  sweep 
them  away,  pleasanter  than  the  softest  breeze,  and  the 
pouring  rain,"  which  drenched  them,  preferable  to  spring 
dew-drops  mirroring  the  sunshine. 

Behind  the  strong  fort  of  Lammen,  defended  by 
several  hundred  Spanish  soldiers,  and  the  Castle  of 
Cronenstein,  a  keen  eye  could  distinguish  the  Beggars* 
vessels. 

During  Thursday  and  Friday  Wilhelm  watched  in 
vain  for  a  dove,  but  on  Saturday  his  best  flier  returned, 
bringing  a  letter  from  Admiral  Boisot,  who  called  upon 
the  armed  forces  of  the  city  to  sally  out  on  Friday  and 
attack  Lammen. 

The  storm  had  blown  the  pigeon  away.  It  had 
reached  the  city  too  late,  but  on  Saturday  evening  Janus 
Dousa  and  Captain  Van  der  Laen  were  actively  en- 
gaged, summoning  every  one  capable  of  bearing  arms 
to  appear  early  Sunday  morning.  Poor,  pale,  emaciated 
troops  were  those  who  obeyed  the  leaders'  call,  but  not 
a  man  was  absent,  and  each  stood  ready  to  give  his  Hfe 
for  the  deliverance  of  the  city  and  his  family. 

The  tempest  had  moderated,  the  firing  had  ceased, 
and  the  night  was  dark  and  sultry.  No  eyes  wished  to 
sleep,  and  those  whom  slumber  overpowered  for  a  short 
time,  were  startled  and  terrified  by  strange,  mysterious 


344  THE  burgomaster's  wife. 

noises.  Wilhelm  sat  in  his  look-out,  gazing  towards  the 
south  and  listening  intently.  Sometimes  a  light  gust  of 
wind  whistled  around  the  lofty .  house,  sometimes  a 
shout,  a  scream,  or  the  blast  of  a  trumpet  echoed 
through  the  stillness  of  the  night ;  then  a  crashing  noise, 
'as  if  an  earthquake  had  shaken  part,  of  the  city  to  its 
foundations,  arose  near  the  Cow- Gate.  Not  a  star  was 
visible  in  the  sky,  but  bright  spots,  like  will-o'-the-wisps, 
moved  through  the  dense  gloom  in  regular  order  near 
Lammen.     It  was  a  horrible,  anxious  night. 

Early  next  morning  the  citizens  saw  that  a  part  of 
the  city- wall  near  the  Cow-Gate  had  fallen,  and  then 
unexampled  rejoicing  arose  at  the  breach,  no  longer 
dangerous ;  exultant  cries  echoed  through  every  street 
and  alley,  drawing  from  the  houses  men  and  women, 
grey-beards  and  children,  the  sick  and  the  well,  one 
after  another  thronging  to  the  Cow-Gate,  where  the 
Beggars'  fleet  was  seen  approaching.  The  city-carpenter, 
Thomassohn,  and  other  men,  tore  out  of  the  water  the 
posts  by  which  the  Spaniards  had  attempted  to  bar  the 
vessels'  advance,  then  the  first  ship,  followed  by  a 
second  and  third,  arrived  at  the  walls.  Stern,  bearded 
men,  with  fierce,  scarred,  weather-beaten  faces,  whose 
cheeks  for  years  had  been  touched  by  no  salt  moisture, 
save  the  sea-spray,  smiled  kindly  at  the  citizens,  flung 
them  one  loaf  of  bread  after  another,  and  many  other 
good  things  of  which  they  had  long  been  deprived, 
weeping  and  sobbing  with  emotion  like  children,  while 
the  poor  people  eat  and  eat,  unable  to  utter  a  word  of 
thanks.  Then  the  leaders  came,  Admiral  Boisot  em- 
braced the  Van  der  Does  and  Burgomaster  Van  der 
WerfF,  the  Beggar  captain  Van  Duijkenburg  was 
clasped  in  the  arms  of  his  mother,  Barbara,  and  many 


THE    BURGOMASTER  S    WIFE.  345 

a  Leyden  man  hugged  a  liberator,  on  whom  his 
eyes  now  rested  for  the  first  time.  Many,  many  tears 
fell,  thousands  of  hearts  overflowed,  and  the  Sunday 
bells,  sounding  so  much  clearer  and  gayer  than  usual, 
summoned  rescuers  and  rescued  to  the  churches  to 
pray.  The  spacious  sanctuary  was  too  small  for  the 
worshippers,  and  when  the  pastor,  Corneliussohn,  who 
filled  the  place  of  the  good  Verstroot,  now  ill  from 
caring  for  so  many  sufferers,  called  -upon  the  congrega- 
tion to  give  thanks,  his  exhortation  had  long  since  been 
anticipated;  from  the  first  notes  of  the  organ,,  the 
thousands  who  poured  into  the  church  had  been  filled 
with  the  same  eager  longing,  to  utter  thanks,  thanks, 
fervent  thanks. 

In  the  Grey  Sisters'  chapel  Father  Damianus  also 
thanked  the  Lord,  and  with  him  Nicolas  Van  Wibisma 
and  other  Catholics,  who  loved  their  native  land  and 
liberty. 

After  church  Adrian,  holding  a  piece  of  bread  in  one 
hand  and  his  shoes  in  the.  other,  waded  at  the  head  of 
his  school-mates  through  the  higher  meadows  to  Ley- 
derdorp,  to  see  the  Spaniards'  deserted  camp.  There 
stood  the  superb  tent  of  General  Valdez,  in  which,  over 
the  bed,  hung  a  map  of  the  Rhine  country,  drawn  by 
the  Netherlander  Beeldsnijder  to  injure  his  own  nation. 
The  boys  looked,  at  it,  and  a  Beggar,  who  had  formerly 
been  in  a  writing-school  and  now  looked  like  a  sea-bear, 
said : 

"  Look  here,  my  lads.    There  is  the  Land-scheiding. 
We  first  pierced  that,  but  more  was  to  be  done.     The 
green  path  had  many  obstacles,  and  here  at  the  third  , 
dyke — they  call  it  the  Front-way — there  were  hard  nuts 
to  crack,  and  farther  progress  was  impossible.    We  now 


346  THE    burgomaster's    WIFE. 

returned,  made  a  wide  circuit  across  the  Segwaert- 
way,  and  through  this  canal  here,  wliere  there  was  hard 
fighting,  to  North- Aa.  The  Zoetermeer  Lake  now  lay 
behind  us,  but  the  water  became  too  shallow  and  we 
could  get  no  farther.  Have  you  seen  the  great  Ark  of 
Delft  ?  It's  a  huge  vessel,  moved  by  wheels,  by  which 
the  water  is  thrust  aside.  You'll  be  delighted  with 
it.  At  last  the  Lord  gave  us  the  storm  and  the 
spring-tide.  Then  the  vessels  had  the  right  depth  of 
water.  There  was  warm  work  again  at  the  Kirk-way, 
but  the  day  before  yesterday  we  reached  Lammen. 
Many  a  brave  man  has  fallen  on  both  sides,  but  at  Lam- 
men every  one  expected  the  worst  struggle  to  take 
place.  We  were  going  to  attack  it  early  this  morning, 
but  when  day  dawned  everything  was  unnaturally  quiet 
in  the  den,  and  moreover,  a  strange  stillness  prevailed. 
Then  we  thought:  Leyden  has  surrendered;  starva- 
tion conquered  her.  But  it  was  nothing  of  the  sort ! 
You  are  people  of  the  right  stamp,  and  soon  after  a  lad 
about  as  large  as  one  of  you,  came  to  our  vessel  and 
told  us  he  had  seen  a  long  procession  of  lights  move  out 
of  the  fort  during  the  night  and  march  away.  At  first 
we  wouldn't  believe  him,  but  the  boy  was  right.  The 
water  had  grown  too  hot  for  the  crabs,  and  the  lights  the 
lad  saw  were  the  Spaniards'  lunts.  Look,  children,  there 
is  Lammen — "  , 

Adrian  had  gone  close  to  the  map  with  his  compan- 
ions and  now  interrupted  the  Beggar  by  laughing 
loudly. 

"  What. is  it,  curly-head  ?"  asked  the  latter. 

''Look,  look!"  cried  the  boy,  ''the  great  General 
Valdez  has  immortalized  himself  here,  and  there  is  his 
name  too.      Listen^  listen !     The  rector  would  hang  a 


THE    BURGOMASTER  S    WIFE.  347 

placard  with  the  word  donkey  round  his  neck,  for  he  has 
written  :  *  Castelli  parvi  I  Vale  civitas^  valete  castelli 
pann  ;  relicti  estis  propter  aquam  et  71071  per  vitn  ini7fii- 
corum  P  Oh!  the  donkey  *  Castelli  pann  I '^^ 

"  What  does  it  mean  ?"  asked  the  Beggar. 

*'  Farewell,  Leyden,  farewell,  ye  little  '  Castelli-,'  ye 
are  abandoned  on  account  of  the  waves,  and  not  of  the 
power  of  the  enemy.  '  '  Parvi  Castelli  I '  I  must  tell 
mother  that !" 

On  Monday,  WilHam  of  Orange  entered  Leyden, 
and  went  to  Herr  von  Montfort's  house.  The  people 
received  their  Father  William  with  joy,  and  the  unwea- 
ried champion  of  liberty,  in  the  midst  of  the  exultation 
and  rejoicing  that  surrounded  him,  labored  for  the  future 
prosperity  of  the  city.  At  a  later  period  he  rewarded 
the  faithful  endurance  of  the  people  with  a  peerless  me- 
morial :  the  University  of  Leyden.  This  awakened  and 
kept  alive  in  the  busy  city  and  the  country  bleeding  for 
years  in  severe  conflicts,  that  lofty  aspiration  and  effort, 
which  is  its  own  reward,  and  places  eternal  welfare  far 
above  mere  temporal  prosperity.  The  tree,  whose  seed 
was  planted  amid  the  deepest  misery,  conflict  and 
calamity,  has  borne  the  noblest  fruits  for  humanity,  still 
bears  them,  and  if  it  is  the  will  of  God  will  continue  to 
bear  them  for  centuries. 


On  the  twenty-sixth  of  July,  1581,  seven  years  after 
the  rescue  of  Leyden,  Holland  and  Zealand,  whose 
political  independence  had  already  been  established  for 
six  years,  proclaimed  themselves  at  the  Hague  free  from 
Spain.     Hitherto,  William  of  Orange  had  ruled  as  King 


34^  THE  burgomaster's  wife. 

Philip's  ''  stadtholder,"  and  even  the  war  against  the 
monarch  had  been  carried  on  in  his  name.  Nay,  the 
document  estabUshing  the  University,  a  paper,  which 
with  all  the  earnestness  that  dictated  it,  deserves  to  be 
called  an  unsurpassed  masterpiece  of  the  subtlest 
political  irony,  purported  to  issue  from  King  Philip's 
mouth,  and  it  sounds  amusing  enough  to  read  in  this 
paper,  that  the  gloomy  dunce  in  the  Escurial,  after 
mature  deliberation  with  his  dear  and  faithful  cousin, 
William  of  Orange,  has  determined  to  found  a  free- 
school  and  university,  from  motives,  which  could  not 
fail  to  seem  abominable  to  the  King. 

On  the  twenty-fourth  of  July  this  game  ceased, 
allegiance  to  Philip  was  renounced,  and  the  Prince 
assumed  sovereign  authority. 

Three  days  after,  these  joyful  events  were  celebrated 
by  a  splendid  banquet  at  Herr  Van  der  WerfF's  house. 

The  windows  of  the  dining-room  were  thrown  wide 
open,  and  the  fresh  breeze  of  the  summer  night  fanned 
the  brows  of  the  guests,  who  had  assembled  around  the 
burgomaster's  table.  They  were  the  most  intimate 
friends  of  the  family  :  Janus  Dousa,  Van  Hout,  the 
learned  Doctor  Grotius  of  Delft,  who  to  Maria's  delight 
had  been  invited  to  Leyden  as  a  professor,  and  this 
very  year  filled  the  office  of  President  of  the  new 
University,  the  learned  tavern-keeper  Aquanus,  Doctor 
Bontius,  now  professor  of  medicine  at  the  University, 
and  many  others. 

The  musician  Wilhelm  was  also  present,  but  no 
longer  alone ;  beside  him  sat  his  beautiful,  delicate  wife, 
Anna  d'Avila,  with  whom  he  had  recently  returned  from 
Italy.  He  had  borne  for  several  years  the  name  of  Van 
Duivenbode  (messenger-dove),  which  the  city  had  be- 


THE    BURGOMASTER  S   WIFE.  349 

Stowed  on  him,  together  with  a  coat  of  arms  bearing 
three  bkie  doves  on  a"  silver  field  and  two  crossed 
keys. 

With  the  Prince's  consent  the  legacies  bequeathed  by- 
old  Fraulein  Van  Hoogstraten  to  her  relatives  and  ser- 
vants, had  been  paid,  and  Wilhelm  now  occupied  with 
his  wife  a  beautiful  new  house,  that  did  not  lack  a  dove- 
cote, and  where  Maria,  though  her  four  children  gave 
her  little  time,  took  part  in  many  a  madrigal.  The  musi- 
cian had  much  to  say  about  Rome  and  his  beautiful  sis- 
ter-in-law Henrica,  to  Adrian,  now  a  fine  young  man, 
who  had  graduated  at  the  University  and  was  soon  to  be 
admitted  to  the  council.  Belotti,  after  the  death  of  the 
young  girl's  father,  who  had  seen  and  blessed  Anna 
again,  went  to  Italy  with  her,  where  she  lived  as  superior 
of  a  secular  institution,  where  music  was  cultivated  with 
special  devotion. 

Barbara  did  not  appear  among  the  guests.  She  had 
plenty  to  do  in  the  kitchen.  Her  white  caps  were  now 
plaited  with  almost  coquettish  skill  and  care,  and  the 
firm,  contented  manner  in  which  she  ruled  Trautchen 
and  the  two  under  maid-servants,  showed  that  every- 
thing was  going  on  well  in  Peter's  house  and  business.  It 
was  worth  while  to  do  a  great  deal  for  the  guests  up- 
stairs. Junker  von  Warmond  was  among  them,  and  had 
been  given  the  seat  of  honor  between  Doctor  Grotius 
and  Janus  Dousa,  the  first  trustee  of  the  University,  for 
he  had  become  a  great  nobleman  and  influential  states- 
man, who  found  much  difficulty  in  getting  time  to  leave 
the  Hague  and  attend  the  banquet  with  his  young  assis- 
tant, Nicolas  Van  Wibisma.  He  drank  to  Meister 
Aquanus  as  eagerly  and  gaily  as  ever,  exclaiming : 

"To  old  times  and  our  friend,  Georg  von  Dornburg.** 


350  THE    BURGOMASTER  S    WIFE. 

"  With  all  my  heart,"  replied  the  landlord.  ^'^  We 
haven't  heard  of  his  bold  deeds  and  expeditions  for  a 
long  time." 

"  Of  course !  The  fermenting  wine  is  now  clear. 
Domburg  is  in  the  English  service,  and  four  weeks  ago 
I  met  him  as  a  member  of  her  British  Majesty's  navy  in 
London.  His  squadron  is  now  on  the  way  to  Venice. 
He  still  cherishes  an  affectionate  memory  of  Leyden, 
and  sends  kind  remembrances  to  you,  but  you  would 
never  recognize  in  the  dignified  commander  and  quiet, 
cheerful  man,  our  favorite  in  former  days.  How  often 
his  enthusiastic  temperament  carried  him  far  beyond  us 
all,  and  how  it  would  make  the  heart  ache  to  see  him 
brooding  mournfully  over  his  secret  grief." 

"  I  met  the  Junker  in  Delft,"  said  Doctor  Grotius. 
*^  Such  enthusiastic  natures  easily  soar  too  high  and 
then  get  a  fall,  but  when  they  yoke  themselves  to  the 
chariot  of  work  and  duty,  their  strength  moves  vast 
burdens,  and  with  cheerful  superiority  conquers  the 
hardest  obstacles." 

Meantime  Adrian,  at  a  sign  from  his  father,  had 
risen  and  filled  the  glasses  with  the  best  wine.  The 
^^  hurrah,"  led  by  the  Burgomaster,  was  given  to  the 
Prince,  and  Janus  Dousa  followed  it  by  a  toast  to  the 
independence  and  liberty  of  their  native  land. 

Van  Hout  devoted  a  glass  to  the  memory  of  the 
days  of  trouble,  and  the  city's  marvellous  deliverance. 

All  joined  in  the  toast,  and  after  the  cheers  had  died 
away,  Aquanus  said : 

"  Who  would  not  gladly  recall  the  exquisite  Sunday 
of  October  third;  but  when  I  think  of  the  misery  that 
preceded  it,  my  heart  contracts,  even  at  the  present 
day." 


THE    BURGOMASTERS    WIFE.  351 

At  these  words  Peter  clasped  Maria's  hand,  pressed 
it  tenderly,  and  whispered : 

"  And  yet,  on  the  saddest  day  of  my  Hfe,  I  found  my 
best  treasure." 

"  So  did  I ! "  she  repUed,  gazing  gratefully  into  his 
faithful  eyes. 


1 


THE    END. 


/^.n 


UNIVERSITY  OP  CALIFOBNIA  LIBRARY 


this  book  is  due  on  the  last  date 
stamped  below 

-;AH  4   .327 


SEP  Bti  1928 

.OCT    919»3 


